Intel Core i3-9300 vs Intel Core i7-4760HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9300 and the Intel Core i7-4760HQ are separated by five years of silicon evolution, yet their benchmark scores tell a story of remarkable parity. The desktop i3-9300, built on Coffee Lake, holds a narrow but consistent edge across every single Cinebench test, while the older mobile i7-4760HQ counters with Hyper-Threading and a lower TDP. The data reveals a fascinating clash between architectural age and generational efficiency, where the newer part's clock speed advantage barely outruns the older part's thread count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking aspect of this comparison is the uniformity of the results. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i3-9300 wins outright, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-9300 scores 541 against the i7-4760HQ’s 539, a delta of just 0.4%. That is effectively a tie, yet it is a tie that the newer chip wins. The single-core R15 result is even closer: both parts score exactly 76, with the i3-9300 declared the winner on a 0% deltaPct, which means the scoring system recorded a tie but awarded the edge to the newer architecture.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i3-9300 posts 2257 multi-core versus 2249 for the i7-4760HQ, again a 0.4% advantage. Single-core in R20 shows 318 versus 317, a 0.3% gap. The final pair, Cinebench R23, reinforces the trend: 5374 against 5355 multi-core (0.4%) and 758 versus 756 single-core (0.3%). In every single test, the i3-9300 wins by less than half a percent. This is not a performance victory in any practical sense; it is a statistical one.

The broader context amplifies this point. The i3-9300’s average benchmark score is 1554, placing it at the 39th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-4760HQ averages 1549, at the 38th percentile. Their nearest rivals are essentially interchangeable with them: the i3-9300 sits within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5, the Intel Core i5-4690S, the AMD FX-8350, and the Intel Core i3-1115G4E. The i7-4760HQ’s nearest rival list includes the i3-9300 itself, with a deltaPct of -0.3%. These two processors are not just close to each other; they are part of a dense cluster of mid-range parts from multiple generations that all deliver nearly identical Cinebench throughput.

What the data does not show is any single test where the i7-4760HQ pulls ahead. The wins column reads 6 for the i3-9300 and 0 for the i7-4760HQ. Yet the margins are so small that a single run-to-run variance on any benchmark could flip the result. The i3-9300’s 4.30 GHz boost clock against the i7-4760HQ’s 3.30 GHz should theoretically produce a larger gap, but the older chip’s 8 threads close most of that distance. The result is a statistical dead heat disguised as a sweep.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is defined by the benchmark outcomes, not by any dramatic performance divergence. The i3-9300 wins every single-threaded test, which points to its suitability for lightly-threaded workloads. A 0.3% lead in R20 single-core and a 0.3% lead in R23 single-core are negligible, but they are consistent. Applications that rely on a single fast core—legacy software, certain game engines, or lightly-threaded productivity tools—would see no measurable difference, but the data technically favors the i3-9300.

The i7-4760HQ’s theoretical advantage lies in multi-threaded scenarios, given its 8 threads versus 4. Yet the benchmark results do not support that theory. In R15 multi-core, the i7-4760HQ loses by 2 points. In R20 and R23 multi-core, it loses by 8 and 19 points respectively. The thread advantage is real on paper, but the i3-9300’s higher clock speeds and newer architecture negate it entirely. For rendering or video encoding, the data shows the i3-9300 is marginally faster, not the i7.

The i7-4760HQ does win on power efficiency. Its 47 W TDP is lower than the i3-9300’s 62 W, which means it delivers nearly identical performance while drawing less power. This is the only category where the older part has a clear, data-backed edge. For a mobile platform, the i7-4760HQ’s lower power draw is a meaningful advantage, but for a desktop user, the i3-9300’s higher TDP is irrelevant. The i7-4760HQ also features a larger die (264 mm²) and more transistors (1,400 million), but those are physical characteristics, not performance wins.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different eras and different design philosophies. The i3-9300 is built on Coffee Lake, a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². The i7-4760HQ uses Haswell, specifically the Crystalwell codename, on a 22 nm process, with a die size of 264 mm². The transistor count for the i3-9300 is not listed in the data, but the i7-4760HQ packs 1,400 million transistors into its larger die. The smaller process node gives the i3-9300 a density advantage, but the i7-4760HQ compensates with raw silicon area.

Cache configuration differs significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i3-9300 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4760HQ has only 6 MB. This 2 MB difference in L3 could explain the i3-9300’s slight edge in single-threaded tests, as larger caches reduce memory latency. The i7-4760HQ, despite being a higher-tier product, loses out on cache capacity due to its older design.

Memory support is another generational split. The i3-9300 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The i7-4760HQ uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but with only 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The i3-9300 offers a 50% bandwidth advantage, which is substantial, yet the benchmark results show only a 0.3-0.4% performance difference. This suggests that Cinebench is not memory-bandwidth-bound, or that the i7-4760HQ’s larger L3 cache and 8 threads compensate effectively.

The i3-9300 supports ECC memory, while the i7-4760HQ does not. This is a notable feature for workstation builds. The integrated graphics also differ: the i3-9300 has UHD 630, while the i7-4760HQ has Intel HD 5200. The i7-4760HQ’s graphics are older but were a premium part in their day. The i3-9300 is a desktop part on Socket 1151, while the i7-4760HQ is a mobile BGA 1364 part, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. The i3-9300 also has a launch MSRP of $143; the i7-4760HQ has no listed MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i3-9300 wins every multi-threaded Cinebench test, but by less than 0.5%. In R23 multi-core, it scores 5374 versus 5355 for the i7-4760HQ, a 0.4% delta. The i7-4760HQ’s 8 threads do not overcome the i3-9300’s clock speed and newer architecture.

Q: Does the i7-4760HQ’s 8 threads give it any advantage?

A: The data shows no advantage in Cinebench. Despite having 8 threads versus 4, the i7-4760HQ loses all multi-core tests. Its lower base clock (2.10 GHz) and boost clock (3.30 GHz) compared to the i3-9300’s 3.70 GHz and 4.30 GHz negate the thread count benefit.

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: The i3-9300 wins all single-core tests. In R23 single-core, it scores 758 versus 756 for the i7-4760HQ, a 0.3% delta. The margin is tiny, but consistent across R15, R20, and R23.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i7-4760HQ has a 47 W TDP, while the i3-9300 has a 62 W TDP. The i7-4760HQ delivers nearly identical performance while drawing 15 W less, making it more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable to other parts in their price or performance class?

A: The i3-9300’s average score of 1554 places it within 0.3% of the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5, Intel Core i5-4690S, AMD FX-8350, and Intel Core i3-1115G4E. The i7-4760HQ’s average of 1549 is similarly close, with its nearest rival being the i3-9300 itself at -0.3%.

Q: Which CPU supports newer memory?

A: The i3-9300 supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-4760HQ supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. The i3-9300 also supports ECC memory, which the i7-4760HQ does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every physical and feature specification. The i3-9300 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-4760HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. TDP is 62 W for the i3-9300 and 47 W for the i7-4760HQ. The i3-9300 uses Socket 1151, while the i7-4760HQ uses BGA 1364. Architecture is Coffee Lake versus Haswell (Crystalwell), and process nodes are 14 nm versus 22 nm. The i7-4760HQ has 1,400 million transistors and a 264 mm² die, while the i3-9300 has a 126 mm² die and no listed transistor count. L3 cache is 8 MB for the i3-9300 and 6 MB for the i7-4760HQ. Memory support is DDR4 for the i3-9300 and DDR3 for the i7-4760HQ. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s. ECC support is true for the i3-9300 and false for the i7-4760HQ. Integrated graphics are UHD 630 versus Intel HD 5200. Market segment is Desktop versus Mobile. The i3-9300 has a launch MSRP of $143; the i7-4760HQ has none. The i3-9300 was released in 2019, while the i7-4760HQ came in 2014.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, choice. The i3-9300 is the better processor for anyone who values raw performance in Cinebench, as it wins all six benchmark tests. It also offers newer memory support, ECC capability, and a lower launch MSRP of $143. The i7-4760HQ’s only advantages are its lower 47 W TDP and its 8 threads, which fail to translate into any benchmark win. For a desktop user, the i3-9300 is the logical pick: it is faster, newer, and supports modern DDR4 memory. For a mobile user, the i7-4760HQ is the only option of the two, as it is a BGA part designed for laptops, and its lower power draw is a practical benefit in that context. Yet the benchmark data shows that the i7-4760HQ is not meaningfully slower despite being five years older. The i3-9300 wins, but it wins by a margin so slim that most users would never notice the difference. The verdict is not about performance; it is about platform and features. The i3-9300 is the better CPU, and the i7-4760HQ is the better power-efficient mobile part that happens to keep pace.