Intel Core i3-8145U vs Intel Core i7-4600U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8145U and Intel Core i7-4600U are both dual-core, four-thread mobile processors with a 15 W TDP, but they represent different eras of Intel's design philosophy. The i3-8145U comes from the Whiskey Lake generation on a 10 nm process, while the i7-4600U is a Haswell part built on 22 nm. Benchmark data shows a consistent and substantial performance gap across all tested workloads, with the newer i3 winning every single head-to-head comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the uniformity of the victory margin. Across five Cinebench tests spanning R15, R20, and R23, the Intel Core i3-8145U wins every round with a delta between 38.6% and 39%. This is not a case of one benchmark favoring a particular architecture; the performance advantage is remarkably stable regardless of the rendering workload or the scoring method.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-8145U scores 322 against the i7-4600U's 232, a 38.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, though that specific score is only listed for the i3 (148.5), while the i7's R15 single-core result is absent from the data. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap is 38.6% (1342 vs 968), and the single-core gap is the largest of the set at 39% (189 vs 136). The Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend: multi-core shows 3196 versus 2306, a 38.6% lead, and single-core shows 451 versus 325, a 38.8% lead.

The only benchmark where the i7-4600U has a score and the i3 does not is Geekbench, where the i7 posts 1664 multi-core and 889 single-core. However, since the i3 has no corresponding Geekbench scores in the data, this cannot be used for a direct comparison. The five head-to-head results all favor the i3-8145U, giving it a clean 5-0 win tally.

When placed against the broader field, both processors sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers by modern standards. The i3-8145U's average benchmark score is 941, while the i7-4600U averages 931. Their nearest rivals are telling: the i3-8145U trades blows with the Intel Core i7-2715QE (delta -0.1%) and AMD Athlon X4 860K (delta -0.2%), while the i7-4600U is closest to the Intel Core i7-870 (delta 0.3%) and Intel Core i5-4288U (delta 0.4%). This suggests the i3-8145U is competing against older quad-core desktop parts, whereas the i7-4600U is grouped with other dual-core mobile chips.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8145U wins in every category where direct comparison is possible. Its strengths are most pronounced in single-threaded performance, where the 39% lead in R20 single-core represents the largest delta of any test. This is likely a result of the higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.30 GHz) and the architectural improvements from Whiskey Lake. For tasks that rely on a single core—such as legacy applications, certain productivity tools, or lightly threaded games—the i3-8145U is clearly the superior choice.

In multi-threaded workloads, the i3-8145U maintains a nearly identical 38.6% to 38.8% advantage. This is notable because both chips have the same core count (2) and thread count (4), so the difference comes entirely from per-core efficiency rather than additional parallel resources. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3196 versus 2306 shows that even heavily threaded rendering tasks see a substantial benefit from the newer architecture.

The Intel Core i7-4600U does not win any head-to-head benchmark. Its only listed advantage is the availability of Geekbench scores, which the i3 lacks in the data, but this is an absence of data rather than a performance win. The i7-4600U does have a slightly higher average benchmark score than its closest rival (931 versus 928 for the i7-870), but this is a marginal edge and does not translate into any victory against the i3-8145U.

For a use-case split, the i3-8145U is the pick for any modern workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. The i7-4600U's only potential niche would be in legacy systems where the older Haswell platform is already in place, but even then, the data shows it trails the i3 in every measurable way. There is no benchmark category in the FACT PACK where the i7-4600U demonstrates a competitive advantage.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8145U outperforms the Intel Core i7-4600U in every single head-to-head benchmark. The margins are consistent, hovering around 38-39% across all Cinebench versions and both single-core and multi-core tests. This is a generational leap, not a marginal improvement.

For a user choosing between these two processors, the i3-8145U is the only rational pick based on performance. It delivers a 38.8% higher score in Cinebench R15 multi-core (322 vs 232), a 39% higher score in Cinebench R20 single-core (189 vs 136), and a 38.6% higher score in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3196 vs 2306). Even the newer Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 38.8% lead (451 vs 325). These are not isolated wins; they represent a consistent pattern across five different tests.

The i7-4600U's only saving grace is that both processors sit at the same 25th percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a high-performance part. However, within this entry-level segment, the i3-8145U is clearly the stronger performer. Its average benchmark score of 941 is higher than the i7-4600U's 931, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2715QE and AMD Athlon X4 860K, whereas the i7-4600U is grouped with the Intel Core i7-870 and Intel Core i5-4288U—all of which are older or lower-tier parts.

The verdict is straightforward: pick the Intel Core i3-8145U for any workload where CPU performance matters. The i7-4600U should only be considered if compatibility with the older BGA 1168 socket or DDR3 memory is an absolute requirement, but from a pure benchmark perspective, it loses every test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 189 versus the i7-4600U's 136, a 39% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 451 versus 325, a 38.8% lead.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The i3-8145U leads in every multi-core test. Cinebench R15 shows 322 versus 232 (38.8% delta), R20 shows 1342 versus 968 (38.6% delta), and R23 shows 3196 versus 2306 (38.6% delta).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i7-4600U wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the i3-8145U and 0 wins for the i7-4600U. The i7 does have Geekbench scores (1664 multi-core, 889 single-core), but the i3 has no Geekbench scores listed, so a comparison cannot be made.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U has an average benchmark score of 941, while the Intel Core i7-4600U has an average benchmark score of 931.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i3-8145U is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-2715QE (delta -0.1%) and AMD Athlon X4 860K (delta -0.2%). The i7-4600U is slightly ahead of the Intel Core i7-870 (delta 0.3%) and Intel Core i5-4288U (delta 0.4%).

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads. They also share the same 15 W TDP and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The difference in performance comes from architectural improvements, not from additional cores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their underlying architecture, despite similar core counts and TDPs. The Intel Core i3-8145U is built on Whiskey Lake-U architecture using a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-4600U uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. This process node difference is a major factor in the performance gap, as the 10 nm node allows for higher efficiency and better power characteristics per clock cycle.

The i3-8145U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, whereas the i7-4600U has the same base clock of 2.10 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.30 GHz. This 0.60 GHz boost clock advantage contributes directly to the single-core performance lead seen in the benchmarks. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and both share 4 MB of L3 cache.

Memory support differs, with the i3-8145U supporting DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i7-4600U supports DDR3 memory. The i3 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7 has no PCIe information provided. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-8145U uses UHD Graphics 620, while the i7-4600U uses Intel HD 5000.

The i7-4600U has more detailed physical specifications, with 1,300 million transistors and a die size of 118 mm², while those figures are not listed for the i3-8145U. Socket compatibility is different, with the i3 using Intel BGA 1528 and the i7 using Intel BGA 1168. The i3-8145U is marked as end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of $281, and has a release date of September 2018, while the i7-4600U has a release date of August 2013 and no listed MSRP. Both processors are locked (not multiplier unlocked) and do not support ECC memory. The i3-8145U has a part number of SRFFZSRD1WSRD1V, while the i7-4600U has no part number listed.