Intel Core i3-N300 vs Intel Core i5-4430 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a split picture across Cinebench versions. The Intel Core i3-N300 wins four of the six head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-4430 wins two. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the win count alone.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-N300 scores 416 against the i5-4430's 400, a 3.8% advantage. That is a modest lead, but the single-core test in R15 shows a much larger gap: the i3-N300 scores 85 versus 56, a 34.1% advantage. This is the largest single-core delta in either direction across the entire benchmark set, indicating a substantial per-thread performance advantage for the newer Gracemont architecture.

The Cinebench R20 results amplify the i3-N300's lead. In multicore, it scores 2849 against 1669, a 41.4% advantage. The single-core test shows the same 41.4% delta, with scores of 401 versus 235. These two results are consistent: the i3-N300 is roughly 70% faster in both R20 metrics. The i5-4430's Haswell architecture, launched in 2013, clearly struggles against the newer design in this workload.

The picture reverses, however, in Cinebench R23. The i5-4430 wins multicore with a score of 3974 against 2546, a 56.1% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it is a decisive reversal from the R20 result. The single-core R23 test also goes to the i5-4430, scoring 561 against 513, a 9.4% lead. The reason for this reversal is not visible in the benchmark scores alone, but the data shows that the i5-4430's performance scales better in the R23 multicore workload, possibly due to thermal or power behavior under sustained load.

The average benchmark score across all tests puts the i5-4430 at 1149 and the i3-N300 at 1135. The difference is 1.2%, effectively a tie in overall average. The i5-4430 sits at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-N300 sits at the 32nd percentile. Both are near the middle of the database distribution, but neither is a standout in aggregate terms.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each processor helps contextualize these scores. The i5-4430's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3612QE (avg score 1147, delta 0.2%) and the AMD Opteron 4284 (avg score 1146, delta 0.2%). The i3-N300's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3570T (avg score 1136, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-2550K (avg score 1136, delta -0.1%). Both processors are effectively bracketed by comparable silicon from different eras, reinforcing that their aggregate performance is similar despite the divergent workload-specific results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and serve different market segments. The i5-4430 is a desktop part built on the Haswell architecture, released in June 2013. It uses a 22 nm process node from Intel's own foundry, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i3-N300 is a mobile part built on the Gracemont architecture, released in January 2023, using a 10 nm process node. Its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core counts differ significantly. The i5-4430 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock listed as 100.00 GHz in the database (likely a data artifact, but the recorded value is what it is) and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i3-N300's 8 cores give it a raw thread count advantage, which explains its multicore wins in R15 and R20.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-4430 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-N300 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-N300's larger L1 cache per core likely contributes to its single-core advantage, while the shared L3 is identical at 6 MB.

Memory support diverges sharply. The i5-4430 supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i3-N300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, but in a single-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i3-N300's single-channel memory bus is a potential bottleneck for memory-intensive workloads, although the benchmark data does not isolate memory-bound tests. The i5-4430's dual-channel DDR3 support may provide higher effective bandwidth in certain scenarios, despite the older memory standard.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-4430 uses Intel HD 4600, while the i3-N300 uses UHD Graphics 770. The i3-N300 also has a much lower TDP: 7 watts versus 84 watts for the i5-4430. This is a 12x difference in power envelope, which explains why the i3-N300 is classified as a mobile part with an active production status, while the i5-4430's production status is not recorded.

Socket and PCIe support are also distinct. The i5-4430 uses Intel Socket 1150 with PCIe Gen 3, while the i3-N300 uses Intel BGA 1264 with PCIe Gen 3 and 9 lanes (CPU only). The i5-4430's socket is a standard desktop platform, whereas the i3-N300's BGA socket is soldered, typical of mobile designs. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data supports a clear workload split. The i3-N300 wins in Cinebench R15 and R20, both multicore and single-core. Its strengths are in short-duration, bursty workloads where its 8 Gracemont cores and higher boost clock can operate at full speed. The 34.1% single-core lead in R15 and the 41.4% single-core lead in R20 indicate that the i3-N300's per-thread performance is decisively better than the i5-4430's Haswell cores. For tasks that are latency-sensitive or lightly threaded, such as web browsing, office applications, or single-threaded rendering, the i3-N300 is the clear choice.

The i5-4430 wins in Cinebench R23, both multicore and single-core. The 56.1% multicore lead in R23 is the largest delta in the entire comparison, suggesting that the i5-4430 handles sustained multicore loads better than the i3-N300. This could be due to the i3-N300's 7-watt TDP limiting sustained performance, or due to the i5-4430's dual-channel memory bus providing better bandwidth under extended load. The 9.4% single-core lead in R23 is smaller but still consistent. For sustained rendering workloads, batch processing, or any task that runs for minutes at a time, the i5-4430's data indicates a superior outcome.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, so neither processor is a universal winner. The choice depends on whether the workload is bursty or sustained, and whether it is single-threaded or multicore. The i3-N300's wins are concentrated in the R15 and R20 tests, which typically run for shorter durations. The i5-4430's wins are in R23, which is a longer, more demanding workload. This pattern suggests that the i3-N300 is better for interactive or short tasks, while the i5-4430 is better for prolonged compute.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i3-N300 is the stronger processor for the majority of benchmark tests, winning four of six head-to-head comparisons. Its single-core performance is substantially ahead, with deltas of 34.1% in R15 and 41.4% in R20. Its multicore performance is also ahead in those same tests, with a 3.8% lead in R15 and a 41.4% lead in R20. For anyone running short, bursty workloads or single-threaded tasks, the i3-N300 is the better choice.

The Intel Core i5-4430, however, has a decisive advantage in Cinebench R23. Its 56.1% multicore lead and 9.4% single-core lead indicate that it handles sustained loads better. For rendering, compiling, or any long-running compute task, the i5-4430's data shows superior endurance. Its 84-watt TDP, while much higher than the i3-N300's 7 watts, likely enables sustained clock speeds that the i3-N300 cannot maintain.

The aggregate average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1149 for the i5-4430 and 1135 for the i3-N300, a 1.2% difference. Both sit at the 32nd and 33rd percentiles of all CPUs, respectively. The i5-4430's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-3612QE, is within 0.2% of its average score, while the i3-N300's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-3570T, is within 0.1%. This places both processors in the same performance tier, with the i3-N300 offering a newer architecture, 8 cores, and a much lower power draw, but the i5-4430 offering a desktop socket, dual-channel memory, and superior sustained-load performance.

Users who prioritize short bursts of speed, single-thread responsiveness, and power efficiency should choose the i3-N300. Users who prioritize sustained multicore throughput and are building a desktop system with an Intel Socket 1150 platform should choose the i5-4430. The i3-N300 carries a launch MSRP of $309.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i3-N300 wins four of the six head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-4430 wins two.

Q: What is the largest performance delta in either direction?

A: The largest delta is the i5-4430's 56.1% multicore lead in Cinebench R23, with scores of 3974 versus 2546.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare in Cinebench R20?

A: The i3-N300 scores 401, which is 41.4% ahead of the i5-4430's 235.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for both processors?

A: The i5-4430 has an average benchmark score of 1149, while the i3-N300 has an average of 1135, a difference of 1.2%.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i3-N300 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-4430 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What memory configurations do the two processors support?

A: The i5-4430 supports DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The i3-N300 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a single-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.