Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Core i5-4440S Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S has an average benchmark score of 1078, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL scores 1065. The i5-4440S sits at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, with the i3-9100HL just behind at the 29th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S wins all recorded multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 3729 versus 3094 for the i3-9100HL, a 20.5% advantage. The R20 multicore result shows 1566 against 1299, also a 20.6% lead.

Q: Are these processors comparable in single-core performance?

A: The i5-4440S holds a consistent edge in single-core tests too. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 526 versus 436, a 20.6% lead, and in R20 single-core it posts 220 against 183, a 20.2% advantage.

Q: What are the architectural differences between the two?

A: The i5-4440S is built on Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process with a 65 W TDP, while the i3-9100HL uses Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process with a 25 W TDP. The i3-9100HL is a BGA 1440 socket part, whereas the i5-4440S uses Intel Socket 1150.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The i5-4440S supports DDR3 memory, while the i3-9100HL supports DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the i3-9100HL?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL has a launch MSRP of $225. The i5-4440S has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4440S wins every head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database. Across five Cinebench tests, it takes all five wins. The largest deltas come in Cinebench R15 multicore and R23 single-core, where it leads by 20.6% in both. In R20 multicore and R23 multicore, the margin sits at 20.6% and 20.5%, respectively. The narrowest gap is in R20 single-core, where the i5-4440S still leads by 20.2%.

The i3-9100HL has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, its strengths lie in platform efficiency rather than raw compute. With a 25 W TDP versus 65 W for the i5-4440S, the Coffee Lake part draws substantially less power. It also supports DDR4 memory and ECC memory, features absent from the Haswell chip. For scenarios where power consumption and memory flexibility matter more than peak Cinebench scores, the i3-9100HL is the more practical choice. The i5-4440S, by contrast, is the clear pick for users who prioritize raw rendering and single-threaded performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras. The i5-4440S uses Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². The i3-9100HL uses Coffee Lake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm². The transistor count for the i3-9100HL is not recorded in the database.

Both chips feature four cores and four threads, so the threading model is identical. Cache configurations also match: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-4440S carrying Intel HD 4600 and the i3-9100HL carrying UHD Graphics 630.

Memory support diverges sharply. The i5-4440S uses DDR3, while the i3-9100HL uses DDR4 and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i3-9100HL also supports ECC memory, which the i5-4440S does not. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 on both, though the i3-9100HL specifies 16 lanes (CPU only) in the database.

The socket situation is a major differentiator. The i5-4440S uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop LGA platform. The i3-9100HL uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile-oriented package. This means the i5-4440S can be swapped in a compatible desktop motherboard, while the i3-9100HL is effectively fixed to its board.

Production status also separates the pair. The i3-9100HL is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i5-4440S has no production status recorded. Release dates are roughly six years apart, with the i5-4440S launching in 2013 and the i3-9100HL in 2019.

Specification Differences

The base clock rates differ dramatically. The i5-4440S runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The i3-9100HL has a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and a boost of 2.90 GHz. The Haswell part is significantly faster at both ends of the frequency range.

TDP is a major point of divergence. The i5-4440S is rated at 65 W, while the i3-9100HL draws only 25 W. That is a 40 W difference in thermal design power, making the Coffee Lake part far more suitable for low-power or passively cooled systems.

Memory support differs as noted: DDR3 for the i5-4440S, DDR4 for the i3-9100HL. ECC memory is supported only on the i3-9100HL. The i3-9100HL also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure absent for the i5-4440S.

The integrated graphics are different models: Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4440S versus UHD Graphics 630 on the i3-9100HL. The market segment for both is listed as Desktop, despite the BGA socket on the i3-9100HL.

The i3-9100HL has a recorded launch MSRP of $225, a part number of SRFEK, and an end-of-life production status. The i5-4440S has a part number of SR14L and no launch MSRP or production status in the database. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test sets the tone. The i5-4440S scores 375, and the i3-9100HL scores 311. That is a 20.6% advantage for the Haswell chip. This is one of the largest margins recorded in the comparison, and it reflects the i5-4440S's higher boost clock and older but higher-frequency design.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-4440S posts 1566 against 1299 for the i3-9100HL. The delta is again 20.6%. The single-core R20 test shows a slightly narrower gap: 220 versus 183, a 20.2% lead. Even in single-threaded workloads, where newer architectures often close the gap, the i5-4440S maintains a meaningful advantage.

Cinebench R23 multicore results repeat the pattern. The i5-4440S scores 3729, while the i3-9100HL scores 3094, a 20.5% delta. The R23 single-core test gives the i5-4440S a 526 to 436 win, a 20.6% margin. Across all five recorded benchmarks, the i5-4440S wins by roughly 20% or slightly more in every case.

The consistency of these margins is notable. The deltas cluster tightly between 20.2% and 20.6%, suggesting that the performance gap is uniform across both single-core and multi-core workloads. This is not a case where one chip excels in one scenario and the other in another; the i5-4440S is simply faster across the board in Cinebench.

The i3-9100HL's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon W3580 with an average score of 1064 and a delta of 0.1%, plus the Intel Core i5-2380P at 1063 with a 0.2% delta. The i5-4440S's nearest rivals include the AMD A12-9800 at 1081 with a -0.2% delta and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 at 1074 with a 0.4% delta. These neighbor scores show both chips landing in a similar overall performance tier, despite the i5-4440S's clear head-to-head win.

For buyers choosing between these two, the benchmark data is unambiguous: the i5-4440S is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench workload. The i3-9100HL trades that performance for lower power consumption, DDR4 support, ECC capability, and a newer process node. The choice comes down to whether raw compute or platform efficiency takes priority.