Intel Core i7-940 vs Intel Pentium G4560T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-940 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Pentium G4560T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-940 also carries a larger 8 MB shared L3 cache versus the Pentium's 3 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i7-940 has an average benchmark score of 903, placing it at the 24th percentile of all CPUs. The Pentium G4560T scores 887 on average, also at the 24th percentile. The i7-940's closest rival (the Core i5-5350U) matches its 903 score exactly, while the Pentium's closest rival (the AMD PRO A8-8650B) matches its 887 score exactly.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The Core i7-940 wins all five recorded Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 264 versus 256 for the Pentium G4560T, a 3.1% lead. In R20 multi-core, it scores 1102 versus 1068, a 3.2% lead. In R23 multi-core, it scores 2626 versus 2544, again a 3.2% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Core i7-940 also wins both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 155 versus 150 for the Pentium, a 3.3% advantage. In R23 single-core, it scores 370 versus 359, a 3.1% advantage.

Q: What are the platform differences in memory support?

A: The Core i7-940 uses DDR3 memory with a triple-channel memory bus, while the Pentium G4560T uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. The Pentium's memory bandwidth is specified at 38.4 GB/s; the i7-940 has no recorded memory bandwidth figure.

Q: Do either processors include integrated graphics?

A: Only the Pentium G4560T includes integrated graphics, specifically the Intel HD 610. The Core i7-940 has no integrated graphics listed.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-940 across all five recorded head-to-head tests. The i7-940 wins every Cinebench multi-core and single-core test, with margins ranging from 3.1% to 3.3%. The Pentium G4560T records zero wins in the compared tests.

The Core i7-940's advantage comes from its 4 cores and 8 threads, double the core and thread count of the Pentium G4560T. Even though the Pentium has a newer architecture (Kaby Lake versus Nehalem) and a smaller process node (14 nm versus 45 nm), the extra parallel resources of the i7-940 translate into consistent multi-core wins.

However, the Pentium G4560T is not without its own territory. It has two additional benchmark scores in the database that the i7-940 lacks: Geekbench multi-core (1237) and Geekbench single-core (594). These scores are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so no direct winner can be declared there. But the fact that the Pentium has these measurements recorded suggests it has been tested in scenarios the i7-940 has not.

The Pentium also offers a dramatically lower TDP of 35 watts versus the i7-940's 130 watts. This makes it a more suitable option for thermally constrained systems, despite losing in raw compute performance.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-940 is built on the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Bloomfield codename, using a 45 nm process node. It packs 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. This is a first-generation Core i7 design, released in late 2008, and it was produced by Intel's own foundry.

The Pentium G4560T uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the same Kaby Lake codename, built on a 14 nm process node. Intel does not list transistor count or die size for this processor. Kaby Lake is a much newer design, released in early 2017, and represents Intel's seventh-generation Core architecture family, albeit in a Pentium-branded configuration.

The cache hierarchies differ in the L3 portion. Both processors share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the i7-940 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache while the Pentium G4560T has only 3 MB. This larger L3 pool benefits the i7-940 in workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 3 MB.

The i7-940 uses Intel Socket 1366 and supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel memory bus. The Pentium G4560T uses Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, plus a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Pentium also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-940 has PCIe Gen 2 without a lane count listed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Core i7-940 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Pentium G4560T has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are close: 2.93 GHz for the i7-940 versus 2.90 GHz for the Pentium. The i7-940 adds a boost clock of 3.20 GHz; the Pentium has no boost clock listed.

TDP differs substantially: 130 watts for the i7-940 versus 35 watts for the Pentium G4560T. Socket compatibility is different too: Intel Socket 1366 for the i7-940, Intel Socket 1151 for the Pentium.

Memory support splits by generation: DDR3 with triple-channel for the i7-940, DDR4 with dual-channel for the Pentium (38.4 GB/s bandwidth). The i7-940 has no integrated graphics; the Pentium includes Intel HD 610. PCIe generation differs: Gen 2 for the i7-940, Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the Pentium.

The i7-940 is marked end-of-life in the database, while the Pentium G4560T is listed as active production. Release dates are also far apart: November 2008 for the i7-940, January 2017 for the Pentium. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP. Both have locked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory. Part numbers are SLBCK for the i7-940 and SR35T for the Pentium.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows five direct comparisons, all in Cinebench tests, and the Core i7-940 wins all five. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-940 scores 264 against 256 for the Pentium, a 3.1% margin. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-940 scores 1102 against 1068, a 3.2% margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-940 scores 2626 against 2544, a 3.2% margin.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-940 scores 155 against 150, a 3.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-940 scores 370 against 359, a 3.1% lead.

The margins are consistent, hovering around 3.1% to 3.3% across all tests. This uniformity suggests a stable performance gap rather than workload-specific variation. The i7-940's advantage is real but modest, not overwhelming. A 3% lead in Cinebench is meaningful for ranking purposes but does not represent a generational leap.

It is notable that the Pentium, despite its much newer architecture and dramatically lower TDP, cannot beat the older i7-940 in any Cinebench test. The i7-940's extra cores and threads, plus its larger L3 cache, compensate for its older design and much higher power draw.

The Pentium does have two Geekbench scores in its individual benchmark list: 1237 multi-core and 594 single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head table, so no comparison is possible from the recorded data. But they indicate the Pentium has been measured in a broader set of tests than the i7-940.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow overall winner: the Intel Core i7-940. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests with margins of 3.1% to 3.3%. For users focused purely on multi-core or single-core compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the i7-940 is the superior choice.

The i7-940 also offers twice the core count and thread count, plus more than double the L3 cache (8 MB versus 3 MB). These resources explain its consistent lead. However, the margin is not large. The Pentium G4560T, with half the cores and a much smaller cache, comes within roughly 3% across the board. That reflects the efficiency of the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process.

The Pentium G4560T is the better pick for systems where power consumption matters. Its 35 watt TDP versus the i7-940's 130 watt TDP is a massive difference, and it includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 610) that the i7-940 lacks entirely. It also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, making it compatible with modern platforms and components.

For raw performance, the i7-940 wins. For efficiency, platform modernity, and integrated graphics, the Pentium G4560T wins. The database shows the i7-940 with 5 wins and the Pentium with 0 wins in direct comparisons, so the verdict on measured performance is unambiguous. But the Pentium's active production status and modern feature set give it a practical edge in new builds, while the i7-940 is end-of-life and limited to the older Socket 1366 platform with DDR3 memory.