Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i5-1035G4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results between the Intel Core i3-9350K and the Intel Core i5-1035G4 are remarkably tight across every Cinebench iteration. The i3-9350K wins all six benchmark comparisons, but the margins are consistently slim, ranging from a 0.3% advantage in most tests to a 0% difference in the single-core R15 run. This is not a case of one processor dominating another; rather, it is a near-statistical tie that slightly favors the desktop part.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-9350K scores 650 against the i5-1035G4's 648, a delta of 0.3%. The single-core R15 result is a perfect draw at 91 points for both chips. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i3-9350K posts 2711 in multicore versus 2703 for the i5-1035G4, again a 0.3% edge. The R20 single-core test shows 382 versus 381, another 0.3% margin. In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds: the i3-9350K scores 6456 multicore and 911 single-core, while the i5-1035G4 scores 6436 and 908, respectively, with the same 0.3% delta in each.

What these numbers indicate is that, for raw compute throughput in these rendering workloads, the two CPUs are functionally equivalent. The differences are within run-to-run variation for most real-world applications. However, the i3-9350K does hold a slight, consistent edge in every metric. When comparing their average benchmark scores, the i3-9350K sits at 1867, while the i5-1035G4 sits at 1861, a 0.3% gap that mirrors the individual test deltas.

The nearest-rival data reinforces this picture. The i3-9350K's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4, which scores 1869 and is 0.1% ahead. The i5-1035G4 is the second-closest rival at 1861, just 0.3% behind. For the i5-1035G4, its closest rival is the i3-9350K itself at 1867, 0.3% ahead, followed by the Xeon E5-1630 v4 at 1869, 0.4% ahead. Both chips land in the 42nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they outperform roughly 42% of the processors in the database. The average scores are so close that the ordering between these two parts and their immediate rivals could shift with a slightly different benchmark suite.

Architecture Differences

Despite producing nearly identical benchmark scores, these two processors are architecturally distinct in ways that matter for platform-level decisions. The i3-9350K is a desktop part built on the Coffee Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process node. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. The i5-1035G4, by contrast, is a mobile part built on the Ice Lake architecture (Ice Lake-U specifically), using Intel's newer 10 nm process. It also has 4 cores but supports 8 threads via hyper-threading, giving it twice the logical thread count.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i3-9350K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i5-1035G4 has a base clock of 1100.00 MHz (1.10 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The desktop chip runs at dramatically higher sustained and peak frequencies. The i5-1035G4 compensates with hyper-threading, which allows its 8 threads to keep up with the i3-9350K's 4 faster physical cores in the tested workloads. This is a classic trade-off: fewer, faster cores versus more, slower threads.

The cache hierarchy also differs. The i3-9350K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1035G4 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The desktop part has 2 MB more shared L3, which can help in certain multi-threaded scenarios. Die sizes are comparable: 126 mm² for the i3-9350K and 123 mm² for the i5-1035G4, despite the process node difference.

Memory support diverges as well. Both support DDR4 and use a dual-channel memory bus, but the i5-1035G4 has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i3-9350K. The i3-9350K supports ECC memory; the i5-1035G4 does not. PCIe connectivity is also different: the i3-9350K offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-1035G4 offers Gen 3 without a specific lane count listed. The i3-9350K uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-1035G4 uses Intel BGA 1526, meaning the latter is soldered and not upgradeable.

Integrated graphics differ notably. The i3-9350K ships with UHD 630 graphics, while the i5-1035G4 features Iris Plus graphics. The thermal design point is a major separator: the i3-9350K is rated at 91 W TDP, while the i5-1035G4 is rated at 15 W TDP. This six-fold difference in power envelope explains why the mobile chip can be placed in thin laptops despite delivering similar compute performance. The i3-9350K has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the i5-1035G4 is locked. The i3-9350K was released on April 22, 2019, with a launch MSRP of $184, and is now end-of-life. The i5-1035G4 was released on July 31, 2019, and remains active in production.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows that these two processors deliver nearly identical performance in Cinebench workloads, with the i3-9350K holding a consistent but minuscule 0.3% edge across all tests except the R15 single-core tie. If raw compute performance in rendering-style applications is the sole criterion, the i3-9350K is the nominal winner, but the margin is so small that it would be imperceptible in practice.

The real differentiators lie in platform characteristics. The i3-9350K is a desktop processor with a 91 W TDP, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, ECC memory support, and a socketed design for future upgrades. It also has 2 MB more shared L3 cache. The i5-1035G4 is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, locked multiplier, no ECC support, and a soldered BGA package. It offers higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s) and better integrated graphics (Iris Plus versus UHD 630), but these advantages are offset by its much lower clock speeds.

From a pure performance-per-watt standpoint, the i5-1035G4 is the clear winner, delivering 98.9% of the i3-9350K's average benchmark score (1861 versus 1867) at roughly one-sixth the TDP. For a desktop user who values overclocking, ECC memory, or the flexibility of a socketed platform, the i3-9350K is the logical choice. For a mobile user who needs competent quad-core performance in a battery-constrained environment, the i5-1035G4 is the only viable option of the two. The i3-9350K wins on clock speed, cache size, and platform flexibility; the i5-1035G4 wins on power efficiency, memory bandwidth, and integrated graphics capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350K has an average benchmark score of 1867, while the Intel Core i5-1035G4 has an average score of 1861. This represents a 0.3% difference.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The i3-9350K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i5-1035G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads, thanks to hyper-threading support.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i3-9350K has a TDP of 91 W, while the i5-1035G4 has a TDP of 15 W. The mobile part uses significantly less power.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-9350K supports ECC memory, while the i5-1035G4 does not.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i3-9350K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1035G4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The i3-9350K boosts up to 4.60 GHz, while the i5-1035G4 boosts up to 3.70 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-9350K wins in every direct benchmark comparison, but the margins are narrow. Its largest advantages come in R15 multicore (650 versus 648), R20 multicore (2711 versus 2703), and R23 multicore (6456 versus 6436), each at a 0.3% delta. It also edges out the i5-1035G4 in R20 single-core (382 versus 381) and R23 single-core (911 versus 908). In R15 single-core, the two are tied at 91.

Beyond the raw scores, the i3-9350K wins on platform attributes. It has a 4.00 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock, versus 1.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost for the i5-1035G4. It has 8 MB of L3 cache against 6 MB. It supports ECC memory, uses a socketed LGA 1151 design, has an unlocked multiplier, and offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. Its launch MSRP was $184, and it was released on April 22, 2019.

The i5-1035G4 wins on power efficiency and integrated capabilities. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the i3-9350K's 91 W, making it suitable for laptops and other power-constrained devices. It has higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. It features Iris Plus integrated graphics, which is a step up from the UHD 630 in the i3-9350K. Its 10 nm process node is more advanced than the 14 nm node used in the i3-9350K, which contributes to its efficiency. It also supports 8 threads via hyper-threading, enabling better multi-threaded scheduling in workloads that can exploit it, even though the benchmark results show no net advantage. The i5-1035G4 was released on July 31, 2019, and remains an active production part.

In summary, the i3-9350K wins every measured benchmark and offers desktop-friendly features like overclocking and ECC, while the i5-1035G4 wins on power draw, memory bandwidth, and integrated graphics. Users who need maximum single-thread clock speed and platform flexibility should lean toward the i3-9350K; those who need mobile form factors or minimal power consumption should choose the i5-1035G4.