Intel Core i5-4300M vs Intel Core i7-960 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear sweep in direct comparisons: the Intel Core i7-960 wins all five head-to-head benchmark matchups against the Intel Core i5-4300M. The margin is consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads, with the i7-960 leading by roughly 12.4 to 12.8 percent in every test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-960 scores 290 against the i5-4300M's 253, a 12.8 percent advantage. That same 12.8 percent gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-960 posts 1211 versus 1056, and again in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-960 reaches 2885 while the i5-4300M manages 2515. The consistency of that delta across three different Cinebench versions suggests the performance difference scales evenly with workload intensity rather than being tied to a specific benchmark quirk.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-960 scores 170 against the i5-4300M's 149, a 12.4 percent lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i7-960 at 407 versus 355, again a 12.8 percent gap. Notably, the i5-4300M does not appear in the head-to-head for Geekbench single-core or multi-core, so the comparison rests entirely on the Cinebench suite. The i7-960's single-core advantage is slightly smaller in R20 than in R23, but the overall pattern is uniform: the older desktop part wins every direct contest.

The average benchmark scores in the database place these two processors nearly level overall. The i5-4300M has an average benchmark score of 1004, and the i7-960 sits at 993. Both occupy the 27th percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither part stands out in the broader database. The i5-4300M's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-2500S at exactly 1004, the Intel Core i7-5600U and Intel Core i7-2630QM both at 1005, and the AMD FX-9830P at 1006. The i7-960's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-965, AMD Phenom II X6 1065T, and Intel Xeon W3565, all at 993, plus the Intel Core i3-8130U at 994. This near-identical average score makes the head-to-head sweep somewhat misleading at first glance; the i7-960 wins every measured test, yet its aggregate score is lower than the i5-4300M's, likely due to differences in which benchmarks contribute to each average.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-960 wins in every category where direct benchmark data exists. That includes multi-threaded rendering, where its four cores and eight threads give it a structural edge, and single-threaded performance, where its higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 3.47 GHz outperform the i5-4300M's 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The i5-4300M's boost clock is actually higher than the i7-960's, but the measured single-core scores still favor the i7-960, indicating that architectural efficiency or thermal headroom plays a larger role than raw clock speed.

For use cases that favor the i5-4300M, the data is more limited. The database does not include any head-to-head benchmark where the i5-4300M wins, so its advantages must be inferred from specifications rather than measured results. The i5-4300M draws far less power at 37 W TDP versus 130 W for the i7-960, making it suitable for mobile systems where the i7-960's desktop-class power draw would be impractical. The i5-4300M also includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 5000, while the i7-960 has no integrated graphics at all. For workloads that rely on the CPU's built-in display output, the i5-4300M is the only option of the two.

The i7-960, by contrast, is a desktop part with a triple-channel memory bus and PCIe Gen 2 support, features that suit memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks and older expansion cards. Its 8 MB of shared L3 cache is more than double the i5-4300M's 3 MB, which can help in workloads with large working sets that fit in cache. The production status for the i7-960 is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-4300M's status is not specified, suggesting the i7-960 is no longer actively produced.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and process nodes. The i5-4300M is built on Haswell architecture, a 22 nm process from Intel, while the i7-960 uses Nehalem architecture on a 45 nm process. The process node difference is substantial: 22 nm versus 45 nm means the i5-4300M uses significantly smaller transistors, which typically enables lower power consumption and higher transistor density. The i5-4300M packs 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die, while the i7-960 has 731 million transistors on a much larger 263 mm² die. Despite having fewer transistors, the i7-960's larger die size reflects the older, less dense manufacturing process.

Core and thread counts differ as well. The i5-4300M has two cores and four threads, while the i7-960 has four cores and eight threads. This doubling of both cores and threads gives the i7-960 a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, which helps explain its consistent multi-core wins in Cinebench. Cache configurations also differ: both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 3 MB on the i5-4300M versus 8 MB on the i7-960.

Memory support is similar in that both use DDR3, but the i7-960 features a triple-channel memory bus while the i5-4300M does not list a memory bus specification in the database. The i7-960 also supports PCIe Gen 2, a feature absent from the i5-4300M's recorded specifications. The i5-4300M includes Intel HD 5000 integrated graphics, while the i7-960 has no integrated graphics, making a discrete GPU mandatory for any display output on the i7-960.

The socket types differ entirely: the i5-4300M uses Intel Socket G3, a mobile socket, while the i7-960 uses Intel Socket 1366, a desktop socket. This means the two processors are not interchangeable in any motherboard. The i5-4300M is classified as a mobile part, and the i7-960 as a desktop part. The i7-960's part number is listed as SLBEU, while the i5-4300M does not have a recorded part number.

Release dates also separate the pair. The i5-4300M was released on August 31, 2013, while the i7-960 came out on October 19, 2009. That is a gap of roughly four years, placing the i7-960 in an earlier generation despite its higher benchmark scores in direct tests. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is limited on both.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i7-960 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4300M in every measured benchmark. The i7-960 leads by 12.8 percent in multi-core Cinebench tests and by 12.4 to 12.8 percent in single-core tests. For users prioritizing raw compute performance in rendering or CPU-bound tasks, the i7-960 is the better choice based on recorded results.

However, the i5-4300M has its own strengths that are not reflected in the head-to-head benchmarks. Its 37 W TDP is dramatically lower than the i7-960's 130 W, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems where power draw and heat dissipation are critical. The integrated Intel HD 5000 graphics mean the i5-4300M can drive a display without a separate GPU, something the i7-960 cannot do. The newer 22 nm Haswell architecture also suggests better power efficiency per transistor, even if the measured performance lags.

The average benchmark scores in the database are nearly identical, with the i5-4300M at 1004 and the i7-960 at 993, and both sit at the 27th percentile. This suggests that in a broader range of workloads outside the Cinebench suite, the two processors perform at a similar level. The i7-960's wins are consistent but not overwhelming, and the i5-4300M's lower power consumption and integrated graphics make it a more versatile part for mobile use.

The verdict depends on the use case. For desktop users who need maximum multi-threaded performance and already have a discrete GPU, the i7-960 wins on every recorded benchmark. For mobile users or those who need integrated graphics and low power draw, the i5-4300M is the only viable option of the two. The i7-960's end-of-life status also matters for new builds, as availability may be limited.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-960 scores 407 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-4300M scores 355. The i7-960 leads by 12.8 percent.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two processors?

A: The i5-4300M has an average benchmark score of 1004, and the i7-960 has an average of 993. Both are in the 27th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support DDR3 memory?

A: Yes, both the i5-4300M and the i7-960 support DDR3 memory. The i7-960 also has a triple-channel memory bus, which is not listed for the i5-4300M.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4300M includes Intel HD 5000 integrated graphics. The i7-960 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The i5-4300M has a TDP of 37 W, while the i7-960 has a TDP of 130 W. The i5-4300M draws significantly less power.

Q: In how many head-to-head benchmarks does the i7-960 win?

A: The i7-960 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks against the i5-4300M. The i5-4300M has zero wins in the recorded comparisons.