Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

The Intel Pentium G4600 and Intel Core i3-9100HL are two very different desktop processors that land in almost the same performance bracket. The G4600 is a Kaby Lake dual-core with Hyper-Threading, while the i3-9100HL is a Coffee Lake quad-core without it. Benchmark data shows the i3-9100HL wins every single head-to-head test, but the margins are razor-thin, making the choice between them less about raw speed and more about platform and feature fit.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the Intel Core i3-9100HL wins every single comparison. Out of five Cinebench tests, it takes all five, with the closest margin being a 0.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore and the widest being a 1.1% lead in Cinebench R20 singlecore. The Pentium G4600 does not win a single test. This is a clean sweep for the i3-9100HL, but the actual score differences are small enough to call it a statistical tie in practical terms.

The Pentium G4600’s only real advantage is its platform flexibility. It uses the Intel Socket 1151, which is a mainstream desktop socket with broad motherboard support. The i3-9100HL, by contrast, is a BGA 1440 part, meaning it is soldered to the board and not upgradeable. If you are building a system where the CPU must be replaceable, the G4600 is the only one of the two that fits that requirement.

The i3-9100HL wins on feature set. It has ECC memory support, which the G4600 lacks entirely. It also has double the L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB) and a newer integrated graphics solution (UHD Graphics 630 vs HD 630). The i3-9100HL also carries a launch MSRP of $225, which is a data point worth noting, though the G4600 has no listed launch price.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i3-9100HL if you need ECC memory support, want the edge in every benchmark, and are building on a fixed platform where the soldered CPU is acceptable. The data shows it is faster in all five Cinebench tests, and it offers double the L3 cache and a newer iGPU. The 25W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient choice on paper, though the G4600’s 51W TDP is not extreme either.

Pick the Intel Pentium G4600 if you require a socketed CPU on the Socket 1151 platform. The performance gap is negligible — the i3-9100HL leads by less than 1% in most tests — so you are not giving up meaningful speed by choosing the G4600. The G4600 also has the advantage of being listed as “Active” in production status, whereas the i3-9100HL is marked “End-of-life,” which may matter for long-term availability.

For anyone who does not specifically need ECC or a socketed CPU, the i3-9100HL is the objectively better processor according to the benchmarks, but the margin is so small that real-world differences will be imperceptible. The decision should come down to platform requirements, not performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-9100HL scores 311 against the G4600’s 309, a 0.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i3-9100HL scores 1299 versus 1289, a 0.8% lead. The single-core tests tell the same story: Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 183 for the i3-9100HL and 181 for the G4600, a 1.1% lead, while Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 436 versus 433, a 0.7% lead. The biggest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i3-9100HL scores 3094 against 3070, again a 0.8% lead.

These deltas are tiny. A 1.1% difference in single-core performance is within run-to-run variance for most systems. The i3-9100HL’s four physical cores should theoretically give it a larger multicore advantage over the G4600’s two cores with four threads, but the G4600’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the i3-9100HL’s 1.60 GHz base (which boosts to 2.90 GHz) helps close the gap. The result is that the multicore tests show only a 0.6-0.8% difference, not the 30-40% you might expect from a core count advantage.

The average benchmark scores confirm the pattern. The i3-9100HL has an average score of 1065 across all benchmarks, while the G4600 sits at 1056. That is a 0.9% difference in the aggregate. Both processors land in the 29th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically indistinguishable in overall standing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL wins both single-core tests. It scores 183 in Cinebench R20 singlecore versus 181 for the G4600, and 436 in Cinebench R23 singlecore versus 433. The lead is about 1.1% in R20 and 0.7% in R23.

Q: Does the Pentium G4600 win any benchmark?

A: No. Out of five head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i3-9100HL wins all five. The G4600 has zero wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: Can the Core i3-9100HL use ECC memory?

A: Yes. The i3-9100HL has ECC memory support enabled. The Pentium G4600 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache between the two?

A: The i3-9100HL has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the G4600 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. That is a 3 MB difference in favor of the i3-9100HL.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: No. The Pentium G4600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Core i3-9100HL uses Intel BGA 1440. These are not interchangeable platforms.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Pentium G4600 has a TDP of 51W, while the Core i3-9100HL has a TDP of 25W. The i3-9100HL is rated for significantly lower power consumption.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel generations. The Pentium G4600 is built on Kaby Lake, while the Core i3-9100HL is built on Coffee Lake (specifically Coffee Lake Refresh). Both use the same 14 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, but the underlying architectures are distinct.

Core configuration is the most obvious difference. The G4600 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach four threads. The i3-9100HL has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This means the i3-9100HL has physically more execution resources, even though its clock speeds are lower. The G4600 runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz with no boost clock, while the i3-9100HL runs at a 1.60 GHz base clock and boosts up to 2.90 GHz.

Cache hierarchy is also different. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is where they diverge: the G4600 has 3 MB, while the i3-9100HL has 6 MB. The i3-9100HL also has a listed die size of 126 mm², while the G4600 has no die size data in the pack.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The G4600 uses Intel HD 630, while the i3-9100HL uses Intel UHD Graphics 630. Both are integrated into the processor, but the i3-9100HL’s UHD 630 is the newer branding. The i3-9100HL also supports ECC memory, a feature the G4600 lacks entirely.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets highlight the platform divide. The G4600 is a socketed desktop part on Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-9100HL is a BGA 1440 part, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard. The G4600 is listed as “Active” in production status, while the i3-9100HL is “End-of-life.” The G4600 was released in January 2017, and the i3-9100HL in March 2019.

Clock speeds are dramatically different. The G4600 has a 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The i3-9100HL has a 1.60 GHz base clock and a 2.90 GHz boost clock. TDP also differs significantly: 51W for the G4600 versus 25W for the i3-9100HL.

Memory bandwidth favors the i3-9100HL at 42.7 GB/s, compared to 38.4 GB/s for the G4600. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode. The i3-9100HL carries a launch MSRP of $225, while the G4600 has no launch MSRP listed. PCIe support is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU for both. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SR35F for the G4600 and SRFEK for the i3-9100HL.