Intel Core i3-8145UE vs Intel Core i5-4430 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8145UE and the Intel Core i5-4430 are separated by five years, a process node, and a fundamental design philosophy, yet their aggregate performance scores land within 0.4% of each other. The i5-4430, a desktop Haswell part from 2013, edges out the newer mobile Whiskey Lake chip in every single benchmark recorded, though the margins are consistent and narrow. The data paints a picture of a generational stalemate: the newer chip’s architectural efficiency offsets its deficit in raw core count, but it never fully closes the gap.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-4430 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the victories are uniform rather than dominant. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4430 scores 400 against the i3-8145UE’s 337, a delta of -15.7% for the latter. That pattern repeats almost exactly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-4430 posts 1669 versus 1408, again a -15.6% difference. The single-core results tell a similar story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-4430’s 235 beats the i3-8145UE’s 198 by -15.7%. The newest benchmark, Cinebench R23, shows the i5-4430 ahead by 3974 to 3354 in multi-core (-15.6%) and 561 to 473 in single-core (-15.7%).

The consistency of the delta—hovering near -15.7% across every test—suggests a fixed performance ceiling imposed by the i3-8145UE’s dual-core design. The i5-4430’s two extra physical cores provide a structural advantage that clock speed alone cannot overcome. Notably, the i3-8145UE’s boost clock is 3.90 GHz, substantially higher than the i5-4430’s 3.20 GHz, yet the older chip still wins single-core tests. That means the i5-4430’s per-core efficiency at a lower frequency is superior, evidence of the architectural maturity of Haswell’s desktop implementation.

The aggregate benchmark scores reinforce this near-tie. The i3-8145UE averages 1154 overall, while the i5-4430 averages 1149, a difference of only 0.4%. Both CPUs sit at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs tracked, meaning they occupy the same performance tier despite their divergent specs. The nearest rival list for the i3-8145UE includes the i5-4430 with a deltaPct of 0.4%, while the i5-4430’s nearest rival list includes the i3-8145UE with a deltaPct of -0.4%. They are, to the decimal, each other’s equals.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel silicon. The i3-8145UE is built on a 10 nm process node under the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename. The i5-4430 uses a 22 nm process with the Haswell architecture. That process shrink is the i3-8145UE’s primary advantage: it delivers comparable performance at a fraction of the thermal and power envelope. The i3-8145UE has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-4430 is rated at 84 watts—a 5.6x difference that is not reflected in the benchmark scores.

Core configuration is the defining split. The i3-8145UE offers 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to double its logical processor count. The i5-4430 provides 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This explains the benchmark pattern: the i5-4430’s four native cores deliver more consistent multi-threaded throughput, while the i3-8145UE’s two cores with Hyper-Threading cannot match the parallel workload execution.

Cache hierarchies differ in total size but not in per-core allocation. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is a different story: the i3-8145UE has 4 MB shared, while the i5-4430 has 6 MB shared. That 2 MB L3 advantage for the i5-4430 contributes to its higher single-core scores, as more cache reduces latency for frequently accessed data.

Memory support is another generational divide. The i3-8145UE supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4430 supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is listed in the data. The newer memory standard gives the i3-8145UE a theoretical data throughput advantage, yet the benchmark results show this does not translate into a performance win.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-8145UE pairs with UHD Graphics 620, while the i5-4430 uses Intel HD 4600. Both are iGPU solutions, but the newer UHD 620 benefits from the 10 nm process and Whiskey Lake’s media engine improvements. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both lack an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4430 wins on raw compute performance across the board, but its victories come with a severe power cost. In multi-threaded rendering workloads like Cinebench R20 and R23, the i5-4430’s four physical cores deliver 15.6% higher scores than the i3-8145UE. For users running CPU-bound tasks that scale with core count—video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulations—the i5-4430 is the clear choice, provided the 84-watt TDP is acceptable. The desktop socket (Intel Socket 1150) also allows for standard cooling solutions and robust power delivery, making sustained all-core loads more practical.

The single-core wins for the i5-4430 are more surprising but equally decisive. With a 15.7% advantage in both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, the older chip demonstrates that its 3.00 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost clock, combined with 6 MB of L3 cache, outperform the i3-8145UE’s higher-clocked but smaller-cache design. This makes the i5-4430 preferable for lightly threaded applications like legacy games, spreadsheet macros, or single-threaded database queries.

The Intel Core i3-8145UE, despite losing every head-to-head test, wins on platform efficiency and mobility. Its 15-watt TDP is a fraction of the i5-4430’s 84 watts, making it suitable for fanless or low-profile mobile designs. The BGA 1528 socket is soldered, which is typical for ultrabooks and compact laptops. The 10 nm process node means the chip generates significantly less heat, allowing for thinner chassis and longer battery life. For mobile professionals who need occasional CPU bursts rather than sustained rendering, the i3-8145UE’s 3.90 GHz boost clock provides responsive single-threaded performance when it matters.

The i3-8145UE also wins on memory bandwidth efficiency. Its DDR4 support with 38.4 GB/s peak bandwidth is a modern standard, whereas the i5-4430 is locked to DDR3. In memory-sensitive workloads that are not CPU-bound, the newer memory subsystem could offer advantages, though the benchmark data does not isolate this factor.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification, yet land at the same performance percentile. The most striking difference is TDP: the i3-8145UE draws 15 watts versus the i5-4430’s 84 watts. Core count differs by 2 (2 vs 4), while thread count differs by 0 (4 vs 4) because the i3-8145UE uses Hyper-Threading to match the i5-4430’s physical threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the i3-8145UE and 3.00 GHz for the i5-4430, while boost clocks are 3.90 GHz and 3.20 GHz, respectively. The i3-8145UE’s boost advantage of 0.70 GHz does not overcome the i5-4430’s core and cache advantages.

Process node is 10 nm for the i3-8145UE and 22 nm for the i5-4430, a full generation apart. The i5-4430 has published transistor count and die size data (1,400 million transistors, 177 mm²), while the i3-8145UE lists neither. L3 cache is 4 MB on the i3-8145UE versus 6 MB on the i5-4430. Memory support is DDR4 for the former and DDR3 for the latter. The i3-8145UE uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket, while the i5-4430 uses Intel Socket 1150. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 620 versus Intel HD 4600. The i3-8145UE is marked as Mobile market segment with Active production status, while the i5-4430 is Desktop with no production status listed.

Release dates are separated by over five years: the i3-8145UE launched in late September 2018, while the i5-4430 launched in early June 2013. The part numbers are SRFDT for the i3-8145UE and SR14G for the i5-4430. Neither chip has a launch MSRP listed in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145UE has an average benchmark score of 1154, while the Intel Core i5-4430 scores 1149. The i3-8145UE leads by 0.4%, as indicated by the deltaPct of 0.4% in its nearest rival list.

Q: Does the i3-8145UE beat the i5-4430 in any Cinebench test?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-4430 winning all five recorded tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core (400 vs 337), R20 multi-core (1669 vs 1408), R20 single-core (235 vs 198), R23 multi-core (3974 vs 3354), and R23 single-core (561 vs 473).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The i3-8145UE has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4430 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both chips have a total of 4 threads, but the i3-8145UE achieves this via Hyper-Threading on two physical cores, whereas the i5-4430 uses four physical cores without Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i3-8145UE has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-4430 has a TDP of 84 watts. This is the largest specification gap between the two, despite their nearly identical benchmark averages.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145UE supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s peak bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-4430 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus, but no bandwidth figure is listed.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both the i3-8145UE and the i5-4430 are at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs tracked. Their aggregate scores (1154 and 1149) are nearly identical, and each appears on the other’s nearest rival list.