Intel Core i3-8145U vs Intel Core i5-4330M Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8145U and Intel Core i5-4330M are both dual-core mobile processors, but they represent two very different eras of Intel design. The benchmark data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy, with the newer Whiskey Lake chip leading across every single test. While the older Haswell part was once a solid performer, the data suggests that architectural advancements have rendered it a step behind in raw computing power. This analysis will break down the head-to-head results, explore the architectural and specification differences, and determine which processor is the better choice based strictly on the provided facts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The results are remarkably one-sided. Across all five Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-8145U emerges as the victor. The margins are not trivial; they are consistently in the 17% range, which represents a significant generational leap in performance.

Starting with multi-core workloads, the i3-8145U scores 322 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while the i5-4330M manages 274. This translates to a 17.5% lead for the newer chip. The pattern repeats in newer test versions: the i3-8145U scores 1342 in R20 multi-core versus 1145 for the i5-4330M (a 17.2% delta), and 3196 in R23 multi-core versus 2727 (a 17.2% delta). These results indicate that for tasks like video rendering or 3D scene creation, the i3-8145U is consistently and substantially faster.

The single-core results paint a similar picture, which is particularly telling for a dual-core part. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-8145U scores 189, beating the i5-4330M's 161 by 17.4%. The R23 single-core test shows the i3-8145U at 451 versus 385 for its rival, a 17.1% advantage. This consistency across different versions of the same benchmark suite is a strong indicator that the i3-8145U simply has a more efficient and powerful core design.

While the i5-4330M has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz vs 2.10 GHz), the i3-8145U's higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz) and newer microarchitecture are decisive. The data shows that raw clock speed alone does not dictate performance; the efficiency of the instruction pipeline and other architectural improvements in the Whiskey Lake design are far more impactful. The i5-4330M fails to win a single benchmark, confirming the i3-8145U's dominance in this direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is the clear winner based on the benchmark results?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a performance advantage ranging from 17.1% to 17.5% over the Intel Core i5-4330M.

Q: How significant is the performance gap between the two processors?

A: The gap is substantial and consistent. The i3-8145U outperforms the i5-4330M by a margin of roughly 17% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, indicating a clear generational improvement in performance.

Q: Does the i5-4330M have any benchmark where it performs better?

A: No. According to the head-to-head data, the i3-8145U wins in all five tested scenarios, including both multi-core and single-core workloads. The i5-4330M records zero wins.

Q: How do these processors compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: Both processors sit at the 25th percentile in performance versus all CPUs tracked in the database. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i3-8145U at 941 and the i5-4330M at 938, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: The i5-4330M has a higher base clock speed. Why is it slower?

A: While the i5-4330M has a higher base clock (2.80 GHz vs 2.10 GHz), the i3-8145U has a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.80 GHz). More importantly, the newer architecture of the i3-8145U allows it to execute more instructions per clock cycle, leading to better overall performance despite a lower base frequency.

Q: Are these two processors close in overall performance?

A: Yes, they are very close in overall average performance. The i3-8145U has an average benchmark score of 941, and the i5-4330M has an average of 938. The difference is a mere 0.3%, with the i3-8145U being listed as a nearest rival with a deltaPct of 0.3% over the i5-4330M.

Architecture Differences

The most fundamental difference lies in the manufacturing process and core architecture. The Intel Core i3-8145U is built on a 10 nm process node using the Whiskey Lake architecture, while the Intel Core i5-4330M is a 22 nm part based on the older Haswell architecture. This process shrink is a primary driver of the performance and efficiency differences observed in the benchmarks.

The i5-4330M has a larger physical footprint, with a die size of 118 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The i3-8145U's die size and transistor count are not listed in the data. The newer 10 nm process allows for a more power-efficient design, which is reflected in the TDP: the i3-8145U has a 15W TDP, whereas the i5-4330M has a 37W TDP. This significant difference means the i3-8145U can deliver superior performance while consuming less than half the power budget.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the i3-8145U features a larger 4 MB shared L3 cache, compared to the 3 MB shared L3 cache on the i5-4330M. This extra 1 MB of L3 cache can help the i3-8145U keep more frequently used data closer to the cores, reducing the need to access slower system memory.

Memory support is another key architectural split. The i3-8145U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4330M is limited to DDR3 memory, with no memory bus width or bandwidth figures provided. The newer DDR4 standard offers higher potential bandwidth and lower latency, contributing to better overall system responsiveness. Additionally, the i3-8145U has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while no PCIe information is available for the i5-4330M.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The i3-8145U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. In contrast, the i5-4330M has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.80 GHz. This makes the i3-8145U the more flexible part, capable of higher peak frequencies when needed.

The i3-8145U is a 15W part, while the i5-4330M is rated at 37W. This makes the i3-8145U a much more suitable candidate for thin-and-light laptops where power consumption and heat dissipation are critical. The socket types are also different: the i3-8145U uses Intel BGA 1528, while the i5-4330M uses Intel Socket G3.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The i3-8145U comes with UHD Graphics 620, while the i5-4330M is equipped with Intel HD 5000. The i3-8145U supports DDR4 memory, whereas the i5-4330M supports DDR3. The i3-8145U was released on 2018-09-30, while the i5-4330M is older, with a release date of 2013-08-31. The i3-8145U is also listed as end-of-life in terms of production status, while no production status is given for the i5-4330M. The i3-8145U has a launch MSRP of $281; no launch MSRP is available for the i5-4330M.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8145U wins in every measurable performance category from this data. It is the clear choice for any task that benefits from raw processing power, both in single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. The benchmark results show it leading by over 17% in all Cinebench tests, which are standard proxies for content creation workloads like 3D rendering and video encoding.

The i5-4330M does not win any benchmarks, but its profile suggests a niche for very specific legacy scenarios. Its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz might offer more consistent performance in lightly-threaded, older applications that are not optimized for modern boost behaviors, although the i3-8145U's higher boost clock and superior single-core scores in R20 and R23 make this a weak argument. Given its 37W TDP, it was likely designed for larger, more traditional laptops where power efficiency was less of a concern. However, from a pure performance standpoint, the data offers no scenario where the i5-4330M comes out ahead.

The Verdict

The choice is unambiguous based on the benchmark data. The Intel Core i3-8145U is the superior processor in this comparison. It delivers a consistent, substantial performance advantage of approximately 17% across all tested workloads, from single-core responsiveness to multi-core rendering. It achieves this while also offering a more modern feature set, including DDR4 memory support, a smaller 10 nm process node, and a dramatically lower TDP of 15W compared to 37W.

The Intel Core i5-4330M, while a competent processor in its day, is clearly outclassed by its newer counterpart. Its only apparent advantages—a higher base clock speed and a larger die size—do not translate into better real-world performance. For anyone choosing between these two for a new system, the i3-8145U is the only logical pick. For those with an existing i5-4330M system, the data suggests that upgrading to a laptop with an i3-8145U would provide a significant boost in performance while likely improving battery life. The i5-4330M remains a viable option only for those requiring its specific 37W TDP and older Socket G3 platform, but for pure performance, the i3-8145U is the definitive winner.