Intel Core i5-4430S vs Intel Core i5-4670T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two Haswell quad-cores is unusually clean. The Intel Core i5-4670T takes six of eight head-to-head tests, dominating every Cinebench workload — R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The Intel Core i5-4430S counters with two wins, both in Geekbench, including a decisive 8.2% margin in multi-core.

That pattern tells a clear story. If the workload is built around Cinebench's rendering engine, the i5-4670T is consistently ahead. Its margins are narrow but uniform: 2.9% in R15 multi-core, 2.9% in R20 multi-core, 2.9% in R23 multi-core, and roughly 3% across all single-core tests. The i5-4430S, meanwhile, shows a substantial Geekbench advantage that is too large to ignore — 2773 versus 2563, an 8.2% gap that flips the overall narrative in that particular suite.

The average benchmark scores reflect how close these parts really are. The i5-4430S averages 1274, the i5-4670T averages 1271, and the delta between them is a mere 0.2%. Both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, meaning neither is a performance outlier in either direction. In practical terms, the i5-4670T is the pick for Cinebench-style threaded rendering, while the i5-4430S is the pick for Geekbench-style integer and floating-point workloads.

Architecture Differences

These are not just similar chips — they are architecturally identical in nearly every measurable way. Both use the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, built by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. Both feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, PCIe is Gen 3, and integrated graphics is Intel HD 4600 in both cases. Neither supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both ship on Intel Socket 1150.

The differences come down to clock speeds and power envelope. The i5-4430S has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, but the i5-4670T has a higher boost clock at 3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. That 100 MHz boost advantage explains why the i5-4670T wins every Cinebench single-core test despite its lower base frequency. The i5-4430S counters with a 65 W TDP, while the i5-4670T is far more efficient at 45 W — a 20 W gap that makes the T-series part the clear choice for thermally constrained systems.

Both chips launched on the same date — June 1, 2013 — and neither carries a launch MSRP in the data. Their part numbers differ (SR14M for the i5-4430S, SR14P for the i5-4670T), but the silicon underneath is effectively the same die configured with different frequency and power targets. The i5-4670T is not a different architecture; it is a lower-power bin with a more aggressive boost clock.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-4670T is the better all-round performer in Cinebench-based workloads, while the Intel Core i5-4430S holds a meaningful edge in Geekbench multi-core. The i5-4670T wins six of eight benchmarks, with every Cinebench result favoring it by roughly 3%. The i5-4430S wins Geekbench multi-core by 8.2% and Geekbench single-core by a razor-thin 0.3%.

For users running rendering tasks that resemble Cinebench — heavily threaded, cache-sensitive workloads — the i5-4670T is the stronger choice. Its higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz gives it a consistent edge in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench runs. The 45 W TDP is a bonus for compact builds or systems with limited cooling, making it the more flexible part overall.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench — mixed integer and floating-point tasks with different memory access patterns — the i5-4430S is the one to pick. Its 2773 multi-core score is a full 210 points higher than the i5-4670T's 2563, a gap that dwarfs the Cinebench margins. The higher base clock of 2.70 GHz likely contributes to this advantage in sustained multi-threaded execution.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1274 versus 1271, a 0.2% difference — so neither chip is a runaway winner in aggregate. But the distribution of wins is not random. The i5-4670T is the better Cinebench chip; the i5-4430S is the better Geekbench chip. Choose based on your workload, not on the averages.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S has an average benchmark score of 1274, while the Intel Core i5-4670T scores 1271. The difference is 0.2%.

Q: How many benchmarks does each CPU win?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670T wins 6 of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-4430S wins 2.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S wins Geekbench multi-core by 8.2% (2773 versus 2563). The i5-4670T's largest wins are 3.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core and 3.1% in R20 single-core.

Q: Are these CPUs architecturally different?

A: No. Both use the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die. Both have 4 cores, 4 threads, 6 MB of shared L3 cache, and Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430S has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-4670T has a 45 W TDP — a 20 W difference favoring the i5-4670T for power-constrained builds.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory and socket?

A: Yes. Both support DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, use PCIe Gen 3, and fit the Intel Socket 1150.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are a study in consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4670T scores 384 against the i5-4430S's 373 — a 2.9% margin. Single-core R15 shows 54 versus 52, a 3.7% edge. Move to R20, and the pattern holds: multi-core is 1604 versus 1558 (2.9%), single-core is 226 versus 219 (3.1%). R23 repeats the same story: multi-core 3820 versus 3710 (2.9%), single-core 539 versus 523 (3.0%).

The i5-4670T's boost clock of 3.30 GHz versus the i5-4430S's 3.20 GHz explains these margins. Every Cinebench test, regardless of thread count, favors the higher-boost part. The lower base clock of 2.30 GHz does not hurt it in these short-duration workloads, where boost frequencies dominate.

Geekbench flips the script. In multi-core, the i5-4430S scores 2773 against the i5-4670T's 2563 — an 8.2% blowout. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it is not close. Single-core Geekbench is nearly a tie: 980 versus 977, a 0.3% edge for the i5-4430S. The higher base clock of 2.70 GHz appears to give the i5-4430S a sustained performance advantage in Geekbench's longer-running multi-threaded tests, where the i5-4670T cannot hold its boost frequency indefinitely.

The net result is a split personality. The i5-4670T is the Cinebench champion, winning all six render tests by margins between 2.9% and 3.7%. The i5-4430S is the Geekbench champion, winning multi-core by 8.2% and single-core by a hair. Their average scores are separated by only 0.2%, and both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs. In the nearest-rival comparison, the i5-4430S edges out the i5-4670T by 0.2%, while the i5-4670T trails by the same margin — a statistical dead heat that the benchmark distribution does not reflect. Pick the i5-4670T for Cinebench-style rendering; pick the i5-4430S for Geekbench-style workloads. The data does not support a universal winner.