Intel Core i5-4330M vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unexpectedly tight contest between two processors from different eras and market segments. The Intel Core i5-4330M, a mobile Haswell part, wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are remarkably slim throughout. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-4330M scores 274 against the i7-870's 271, a delta of just 1.1%. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-4330M posts 1145 versus 1132 — again a 1.1% advantage. The single-core tests show slightly larger gaps: the i5-4330M leads by 1.3% in both Cinebench R20 single-core (161 vs 159) and Cinebench R23 single-core (385 vs 380). The Cinebench R23 multicore result follows the same script, with the i5-4330M scoring 2727 against 2697, another 1.1% margin.

What makes these results striking is the structural mismatch. The i7-870 is a quad-core, eight-thread desktop processor with a 95-watt TDP. The i5-4330M is a dual-core, four-thread mobile chip rated at 37 watts. Despite the i7-870 having twice the physical cores and threads, the i5-4330M still edges ahead in every workload. The data suggests that architectural efficiency and clock behavior matter more than raw core counts in these specific Cinebench tests. The i5-4330M's boost clock of 3.80 GHz exceeds the i7-870's 3.60 GHz, and its newer Haswell architecture likely extracts more instructions per cycle. The consistent 1.1–1.3% deltas across all tests indicate a uniform advantage rather than workload-specific strengths.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the i5-4330M holds an average score of 938 across all tested workloads, while the i7-870 averages 928. That 1.1% aggregate difference mirrors the head-to-head margins. Both processors sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier despite their different origins. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm this parity: the i5-4330M's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941 (0.4% slower), while the i7-870's nearest is the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927 (0.1% faster). Neither chip has a meaningful edge over its own peer group, and they sit essentially side by side.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4330M wins all three multicore tests. It scores 274 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 271 for the i7-870, 1145 in Cinebench R20 multicore versus 1132, and 2727 in Cinebench R23 multicore versus 2697. Each win comes with a 1.1% delta.

Q: Is the i7-870's extra core count reflected in benchmark results?

A: No. Despite having 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i5-4330M's 2 cores and 4 threads, the i7-870 scores lower in every measured benchmark. The i5-4330M holds a 1.1% advantage in Cinebench R15 multicore and a 1.3% edge in single-core tests, indicating that core count alone does not translate into higher Cinebench scores here.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The i5-4330M leads by 1.3% in both single-core tests. It scores 161 in Cinebench R20 single-core against 159 for the i7-870, and 385 in Cinebench R23 single-core against 380. The margin is small but consistent.

Q: What do the average benchmark scores indicate?

A: The i5-4330M has an average benchmark score of 938, while the i7-870 averages 928. This roughly 1% difference aligns with the individual head-to-head results and confirms that the two processors perform at nearly the same level overall.

Q: Are these processors comparable in their performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both chips sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals also cluster closely: the i5-4330M's closest competitor scores 941 (0.4% behind), and the i7-870's closest competitor scores 927 (0.1% ahead).

Q: Does the i5-4330M win all benchmark comparisons?

A: Yes, the head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the i5-4330M and 0 wins for the i7-870 across all five Cinebench tests. The margins are narrow, but the direction is uniform.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design generations. The i5-4330M uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The i7-870 employs the Nehalem architecture (codename Lynnfield) on a 45 nm process, with 774 million transistors spread across a 296 mm² die. The process shrink gives the i5-4330M a significant density advantage: more than twice the transistor count in less than half the die area.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache tells a different story. The i5-4330M has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-870 offers 8 MB. That larger cache pool might benefit the i7-870 in cache-sensitive workloads, yet benchmark results do not reflect such an advantage in Cinebench testing.

The i5-4330M is a mobile processor on Intel Socket G3, while the i7-870 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1156. The i7-870 supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and dual-channel memory. The i5-4330M's memory bus specifications are not listed, but both support DDR3 memory. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The i7-870 includes no integrated graphics, while the i5-4330M carries Intel HD 5000 graphics — a notable feature for systems without a discrete GPU.

The i7-870 has a higher base clock at 2.93 GHz versus 2.80 GHz for the i5-4330M, but the i5-4330M boosts higher at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. The i7-870's TDP of 95 watts is more than double the i5-4330M's 37 watts, reflecting the desktop part's higher power envelope. The i7-870 is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i5-4330M's production status is not specified. Release dates differ by nearly four years: the i7-870 launched on September 7, 2009, and the i5-4330M on August 31, 2013.

# The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow verdict: the Intel Core i5-4330M outperforms the Intel Core i7-870 in every recorded benchmark, yet the differences are small enough that real-world application performance would likely feel identical. The i5-4330M wins all five head-to-head tests with deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.3%. Its average benchmark score of 938 exceeds the i7-870's 928 by roughly 1%. Both processors occupy the 25th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they belong to the same overall performance tier.

For a user choosing between these two, the i5-4330M offers the better benchmark profile. It achieves higher scores while consuming far less power (37 watts versus 95 watts) and including integrated graphics, which the i7-870 lacks. The i5-4330M's newer Haswell architecture and 22 nm process deliver better efficiency, evidenced by its ability to beat a quad-core desktop chip with only two cores. The i7-870's advantages — more cores, more threads, and 8 MB of L3 cache — do not translate into benchmark wins in this dataset.

The i7-870 remains a viable choice for systems that require its specific platform attributes, such as the Socket 1156 desktop form factor or its PCIe Gen 2 connectivity. However, based strictly on the performance data, the i5-4330M is the stronger processor. The verdict is not emphatic — a 1.1% multicore lead is marginal — but it is consistent across every test. Users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance should select the i5-4330M; those needing a desktop socket or the i7-870's specific features would find its performance nearly equivalent.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The i5-4330M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.80 GHz for the i5-4330M and 2.93 GHz for the i7-870, but boost clocks reverse the order: 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. TDP ratings diverge sharply at 37 watts for the i5-4330M and 95 watts for the i7-870. The i5-4330M uses Intel Socket G3, the i7-870 uses Intel Socket 1156.

Architecture and process differ completely: Haswell on 22 nm for the i5-4330M, Nehalem on 45 nm for the i7-870. Transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 774 million, and die sizes are 118 mm² versus 296 mm². The i5-4330M's L3 cache is 3 MB shared, while the i7-870 has 8 MB shared. L1 and L2 caches are identical per core at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The i7-870 includes PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the i5-4330M's PCIe configuration is not listed. Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel noted only for the i7-870.

Integrated graphics separate the two: the i5-4330M includes Intel HD 5000, the i7-870 has none. The i7-870 is marked end-of-life, while the i5-4330M's production status is unspecified. Release dates are September 7, 2009, for the i7-870 and August 31, 2013, for the i5-4330M. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The i7-870 has a part number of SLBJG; the i5-4330M does not list one.

# Where Each One Wins

The i5-4330M wins in every benchmark category recorded. Its strongest relative performance appears in single-core tests, where it leads by 1.3% in both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core. This advantage likely stems from its higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz and more efficient Haswell core design. The i5-4330M also wins all three multicore tests by 1.1%, despite having half the cores and threads of the i7-870. For users running Cinebench-based workloads, the i5-4330M is the consistent choice.

The i5-4330M also wins on platform efficiency. Its 37-watt TDP is less than 40% of the i7-870's 95-watt rating, making it dramatically more power-efficient. It includes integrated Intel HD 5000 graphics, enabling systems without discrete GPUs. Its newer 22 nm process and later release date suggest better manufacturing maturity. The mobile Socket G3 form factor suits portable or compact systems.

The i7-870's wins are less about performance and more about platform attributes. It offers 4 cores and 8 threads, double the i5-4330M's thread count, which could benefit non-Cinebench workloads not captured in this dataset. Its 8 MB of shared L3 cache is more than double the i5-4330M's 3 MB, potentially aiding cache-sensitive applications. The desktop Socket 1156 platform provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, a feature absent from the i5-4330M's specification sheet. The i7-870's higher base clock of 2.93 GHz may help in scenarios where sustained all-core operation is needed without boost.

In practical terms, the i5-4330M suits users who prioritize benchmark scores, power efficiency, and integrated graphics. The i7-870 suits users who need a desktop socket, more physical cores for non-Cinebench workloads, or the specific PCIe connectivity of the 1156 platform. The benchmark data favors the i5-4330M by a slim margin, but the i7-870 remains competitive on raw thread count and cache capacity. Neither chip dominates decisively; the i5-4330M simply wins the tests that were run.