Intel Core i5-4430S vs Intel Core i7-3630QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3630QM and Intel Core i5-4430S represent two distinct interpretations of a quad-core processor from the early 2010s. The i7-3630QM is a mobile part built for high-thread-count workloads, while the i5-4430S is a desktop chip with a higher base clock but no multi-threading. The benchmark data shows a decisive split: the i7 wins every Cinebench test by a consistent margin, while the i5 wins every Geekbench test by an even larger margin. This makes the choice between them entirely dependent on which benchmark family reflects the user's actual workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3630QM is the clear winner in rendering and sustained multi-threaded productivity. Across all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core), it holds a commanding lead over the i5-4430S. The data shows a remarkably uniform advantage: the i7 leads by 17.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 17.3% in R15 single-core, 17.6% in R20 multi-core, 17.8% in R20 single-core, 17.6% in R23 multi-core, and 17.8% in R23 single-core. This consistency suggests an architectural edge in Cinebench's rendering engine, likely tied to the i7's 8 threads versus the i5's 4 threads. The i7's 6 MB shared L3 cache matches the i5's, so the advantage comes from thread parallelism, not cache capacity. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with thread count, the i7-3630QM is the superior part.

The Intel Core i5-4430S wins decisively in Geekbench, a test suite that often favors higher clock speeds and newer microarchitectures. The i5 leads by 23.9% in Geekbench multi-core (2773 vs 2111) and by a massive 35.4% in Geekbench single-core (980 vs 633). This is a much larger margin than the i7's Cinebench lead, indicating that the i5's Haswell architecture is significantly more efficient per clock in integer and floating-point tasks. The i5's base clock of 2.70 GHz is higher than the i7's 2.40 GHz, and its boost clock of 3.20 GHz is closer to the i7's 3.40 GHz than the Geekbench scores would suggest. The i5's 4 threads are clearly outperforming the i7's 8 threads in this benchmark, which points to a fundamental per-core performance gap. For general desktop use, office applications, and legacy software that favors single-threaded speed, the i5-4430S is the better choice.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures and are built for different market segments. The i7-3630QM uses the Ivy Bridge architecture (22 nm process node) with a mobile-focused design, while the i5-4430S uses the Haswell architecture (also 22 nm) with a desktop-oriented design. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the transistor counts and die sizes differ: the i7 has 1,480 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i5's larger die with fewer transistors suggests a more complex per-core design, which is consistent with its superior Geekbench performance. The i7's smaller die with more transistors indicates a focus on density and thread count, not per-core efficiency.

The core and thread configuration is the most significant difference. The i7-3630QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, leveraging Hyper-Threading to double its logical processor count. The i5-4430S has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no multi-threading. Both share 64 KB L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache per core, and both have a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics also differ: the i7 uses Intel HD 4000, while the i5 uses Intel HD 4600. The i5's newer iGPU is likely a factor in its Geekbench single-core win, as that suite includes memory and graphics-related tests. The i7 supports 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 supports Gen 3 without a lane count specified in the data.

Memory support is a point of parity: both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses. The i7 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5's memory bandwidth is not provided in the data. Neither supports ECC memory. The sockets are entirely different: the i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) for laptops, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150 for desktops. This means they are not interchangeable in any system. The i7 is end-of-life, while the i5's production status is not listed. The i7 was released in September 2012, and the i5 in June 2013, making the i5 the newer design by roughly nine months.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clean split with no overlap: the i7-3630QM wins all Cinebench tests, and the i5-4430S wins all Geekbench tests. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 439 against the i5's 373, a 17.7% delta. The single-core R15 test shows 61 vs 52, a 17.3% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7 scores 1832 vs 1558 (17.6% delta) in multi-core and 258 vs 219 (17.8% delta) in single-core. The Cinebench R23 results follow the same pattern: 4364 vs 3710 (17.6% delta) in multi-core and 616 vs 523 (17.8% delta) in single-core. The consistency of these deltas (ranging from 17.3% to 17.8%) is striking. It suggests that the i7's advantage in Cinebench is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput advantage that scales with the test's intensity.

The Geekbench results are the opposite. In multi-core, the i5 scores 2773 against the i7's 2111, a 23.9% delta in favor of the i5. In single-core, the i5 scores 980 against the i7's 633, a 35.4% delta. These are much larger margins than the Cinebench deltas, indicating that the i5's Haswell architecture has a substantial per-clock performance advantage. The i5's base clock is 2.70 GHz versus the i7's 2.40 GHz, but that 12.5% clock advantage does not explain a 35.4% single-core lead. The Haswell architecture is clearly executing instructions more efficiently per cycle. The i7's 8 threads help in Cinebench, but they cannot overcome the i5's raw per-core superiority in Geekbench. The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: the i7 averages 1289, while the i5 averages 1274, a negligible 1.2% difference that masks the divergent workload profiles.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based on the data provided:

• Threads: The i7-3630QM has 8 threads, the i5-4430S has 4.
• Base Clock: The i7 runs at 2.40 GHz, the i5 at 2.70 GHz.
• Boost Clock: The i7 reaches 3.40 GHz, the i5 reaches 3.20 GHz.
• TDP: The i7 is rated at 45 W, the i5 at 65 W.
• Socket: The i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150.
• Architecture: The i7 is Ivy Bridge, the i5 is Haswell.
• Generation: The i7 is "Core i7 (Ivy Bridge)", the i5 is "Core i5 (Haswell)".
• Transistors: The i7 has 1,480 million, the i5 has 1,400 million.
• Die Size: The i7 measures 160 mm², the i5 measures 177 mm².
• Memory Bandwidth: The i7 lists 25.6 GB/s, the i5 does not list a value.
• PCIe: The i7 specifies "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)", the i5 specifies "Gen 3".
• Integrated Graphics: The i7 has Intel HD 4000, the i5 has Intel HD 4600.
• Market Segment: The i7 is Mobile, the i5 is Desktop.
• Release Date: The i7 launched on September 29, 2012, the i5 on June 1, 2013.
• Launch MSRP: The i7 had a launch MSRP of $378, the i5 has no listed MSRP.

The cores, cache sizes, memory support, memory bus width, ECC support, process node, and foundry are identical between the two. Both are 4-core, have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, support DDR3, use dual-channel memory, lack ECC, are built on 22 nm by Intel, and are multiplier-unlocked (false for both).

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-3630QM scores 4364, which is 17.6% ahead of the i5-4430S's 3710.

Q: Why does the i5-4430S win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i5 scores 980 versus the i7's 633, a 35.4% delta. The i5's higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and newer Haswell architecture are the key factors, as the data shows a per-core efficiency advantage that the i7's 8 threads cannot offset in single-threaded tests.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes, both have 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache. The cache sizes are identical, so performance differences come from architecture and thread count, not cache capacity.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-3630QM is rated at 45 W, while the i5-4430S is rated at 65 W. The i7 is a mobile part with lower power draw, while the i5 is a desktop part with higher power draw.

Q: Can the i5-4430S be installed in the same motherboard as the i7-3630QM?

A: No. The i7 uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), and the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are incompatible with each other's motherboards.

Q: Which processor has more threads, and does it matter in the benchmarks?

A: The i7-3630QM has 8 threads versus the i5-4430S's 4. This matters in Cinebench, where the i7 wins all six tests by 17.3% to 17.8%, but it does not help in Geekbench, where the i5 wins by 23.9% to 35.4%. The thread advantage is workload-dependent.