Intel Core i3-9320 vs Intel Core i7-4790S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i3-9320 across every Cinebench test in the comparison. The Core i3-9320 wins all six head-to-head matchups, with winning margins ranging from 4.5% to 5.6%. This is not a close contest; the newer Coffee Lake part is consistently faster in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Core i3-9320 scores 630 against the Core i7-4790S's 595, a delta of -5.6% from the perspective of the older chip. The single-core results in the same test show the Core i3-9320 at 88 points versus 84 points, a 4.5% edge. These margins are remarkably consistent, suggesting a fundamental clock-speed and architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Core i3-9320 posts 2626 in multi-core versus 2482 for the Core i7-4790S, a 5.5% difference. The single-core test shows 370 against 350, a 5.4% gap. Cinebench R23 mirrors these results: 6254 versus 5911 in multi-core (5.5% delta) and 882 versus 834 in single-core (5.4% delta). The consistency of these deltas, all clustered between 4.5% and 5.6%, indicates that the Core i3-9320's advantage is uniform across rendering workloads of varying intensity.

There is no benchmark in the database where the Core i7-4790S manages to outscore its rival. The wins tally stands at 0 for the Haswell part and 6 for the Coffee Lake part. This is a decisive outcome, and it carries implications for every use case that depends on raw CPU throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i3-9320 wins in every measured category. Its higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz, compared to the Core i7-4790S's 3.20 GHz and 4.00 GHz, translate directly into superior single-threaded performance. The single-core Cinebench R23 score of 882 versus 834 is a 5.4% advantage, which matters for applications that rely on a single primary thread, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Core i3-9320 also takes the lead despite having only 4 threads versus the Core i7-4790S's 8 threads. The data shows the Core i3-9320 scoring 6254 in Cinebench R23 multi-core against 5911 for the Core i7-4790S. This is notable because the Core i7-4790S has hyper-threading, doubling its thread count, yet it still loses by 5.5%. The Coffee Lake architecture's higher per-core efficiency and clock speed overcome the thread-count deficit.

Where the Core i7-4790S might still hold interest is in scenarios that benefit from its 8 threads, but the recorded benchmarks show no such advantage. The database indicates a percentile rank of 42 for both CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: 1827 for the Core i7-4790S and 1808 for the Core i3-9320, a difference of less than 1% in favor of the older chip. This suggests that outside the Cinebench suite, the two processors are near-parity on average, but the Core i3-9320's consistent lead in the head-to-head tests is the more decisive data point.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent different eras of Intel's desktop lineup. The Core i7-4790S uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, while the Core i3-9320 is built on Coffee Lake at 14 nm. The die size reflects this reduction: 177 mm² for Haswell versus 126 mm² for Coffee Lake. The transistor count for the Core i7-4790S is listed as 1,400 million, while the Core i3-9320's count is not recorded in the database.

Both processors have 4 cores and identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The core count is the same, but the thread counts diverge. The Core i7-4790S supports 8 threads through hyper-threading, while the Core i3-9320 is limited to 4 threads with no hyper-threading. This is a major architectural difference that, on paper, should favor the Haswell part in multi-threaded tasks. The benchmark data shows otherwise, which points to the Coffee Lake core's superior instructions-per-clock and the higher operating frequencies.

Memory support also differs significantly. The Core i7-4790S uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Core i3-9320 uses DDR4, also dual-channel, with a higher bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This 50% increase in theoretical memory bandwidth may contribute to the newer chip's performance advantage in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-9320 also supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-4790S does not, a feature that may appeal to users running error-sensitive applications.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 for the Core i7-4790S and Intel Socket 1151 for the Core i3-9320. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core i7-4790S featuring Intel HD 4600 and the Core i3-9320 featuring UHD Graphics 630. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a supported path on either platform.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-9320 has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-4790S boosts to 4.00 GHz.

Q: Does the Core i7-4790S have more threads than the Core i3-9320?

A: Yes, the Core i7-4790S has 8 threads (4 cores with hyper-threading), whereas the Core i3-9320 has 4 threads (4 cores without hyper-threading).

Q: Which CPU performs better in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core i3-9320 scores 6254 versus the Core i7-4790S's 5911, a 5.5% advantage for the Core i3-9320.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No, the Core i7-4790S supports DDR3, while the Core i3-9320 supports DDR4. The Core i3-9320 also has higher memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s compared to 25.6 GB/s.

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

A: The Core i7-4790S has an average benchmark score of 1827, and the Core i3-9320 has an average score of 1808. This places both at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Core i3-9320 supports ECC memory; the Core i7-4790S does not.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Field | Intel Core i7-4790S | Intel Core i3-9320 |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 62 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not recorded |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2019-04-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $312 | $154 |

| Part Number | SR1QM | SRF7X |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-9320 is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 4.5% and 5.6%. For users prioritizing raw performance in rendering or single-threaded tasks, the Core i3-9320 is the clear choice based on the measured results.

The Core i7-4790S does have the advantage of 8 threads, which historically would suggest stronger multi-threaded performance, but the benchmarks show the Core i3-9320 overcoming that deficit entirely through higher clocks and a newer architecture. The average benchmark scores are nearly equal, with the Core i7-4790S at 1827 and the Core i3-9320 at 1808, so in a broader mix of workloads the difference may shrink. However, in the tests directly compared, the Core i3-9320 wins every time.

Those who already own a Core i7-4790S system on Socket 1150 may find that its 8 threads and DDR3 support still serve well for general desktop use. But for anyone choosing between these two based on the database's measurements, the Core i3-9320 delivers higher performance across the board. Its newer platform, support for DDR4 and ECC memory, and consistent benchmark wins make it the stronger recommendation from the recorded data alone. The Core i7-4790S remains a competent Haswell-era part, but it is outclassed by its Coffee Lake rival in every head-to-head comparison available.