Intel Core i7-975 vs Intel Pentium G4560 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Pentium G4560 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i7-975 doubles the core and thread count of the Pentium.

Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Pentium G4560 has an average benchmark score of 1031, while the Core i7-975 scores 1023. The Pentium holds a slight edge of 0.8% in the database's average score metric.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory bandwidth?

A: The Pentium G4560 supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i7-975 supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. The Pentium provides 50% more memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The Pentium G4560 is built on a 14 nm process node, while the Core i7-975 is built on a 45 nm node. The Pentium uses a significantly newer manufacturing process.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The Pentium G4560 includes Intel HD 610 integrated graphics. The Core i7-975 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Pentium G4560 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Core i7-975 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz. The Pentium is faster at base frequency, though the i7-975 can boost to 3.60 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Pentium G4560 and Intel Core i7-975 represent two distinctly different eras of Intel processor design. The Pentium G4560 belongs to the Kaby Lake generation, built on a 14 nm process node, while the Core i7-975 is a Bloomfield part from the Nehalem architecture on a 45 nm process. This generational gap explains most of the performance parity observed in the benchmark data.

The Core i7-975 uses a monolithic die with 731 million transistors across a 263 mm² die size. The Pentium G4560 does not have recorded transistor or die size data in the database. The i7-975 features a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Pentium G4560 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Despite the i7-975 having more memory channels, the Pentium's newer DDR4 standard delivers substantially higher bandwidth.

Cache allocation differs significantly. Both processors share the same L1 cache at 64 KB per core and L2 cache at 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is where they diverge: the Pentium G4560 has 3 MB shared, while the Core i7-975 has 8 MB shared. The i7-975's larger L3 cache partially compensates for its slower process node.

The Core i7-975 features an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Pentium G4560 has a locked multiplier. The i7-975 also supports PCIe Gen 2, whereas the Pentium G4560 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Pentium includes Intel HD 610 integrated graphics; the i7-975 has no integrated graphics solution.

Production status separates the two as well. The Pentium G4560 remains active in the market, while the Core i7-975 is end-of-life. The i7-975 launched with a $1059 MSRP, though pricing details are not relevant to performance analysis.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results show a narrow but consistent victory for the Pentium G4560 across every recorded workload. The Pentium wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 0.7% to 1.1%. This is a case where newer architecture overcomes a deficit in core count.

The Pentium G4560 wins in single-core workloads. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 177 against 175 for the i7-975, a 1.1% advantage. The R23 single-core test shows 423 versus 419, a 1% lead. The Pentium's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and superior IPC from the Kaby Lake architecture drive these wins.

The Pentium G4560 also wins in multi-core workloads despite having half the cores and threads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 301 versus 299 for the i7-975, a 0.7% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows 1258 versus 1249, also 0.7%. The R23 multi-core test shows 2996 versus 2974, again 0.7%. The i7-975's 4 cores and 8 threads cannot overcome the Pentium's architectural efficiency.

The Core i7-975 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its strengths are theoretical rather than measured: more cores, more threads, more L3 cache, and an unlocked multiplier. The data shows no workload where the i7-975 pulls ahead. Users considering the i7-975 might benefit from overclocking, but the database records no overclocked results.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium G4560 | Intel Core i7-975 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.33 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 51 W | 130 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Nehalem |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 731 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 263 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 610 | None |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2009-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $1059 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR32Y | SLBEQ |

The TDP difference is substantial. The Pentium G4560 draws 51 W, while the Core i7-975 draws 130 W. The i7-975 consumes more than double the power, yet produces lower benchmark scores in every recorded test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clean sweep for the Pentium G4560. Every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, records a Pentium victory. The margins are small but consistent.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium G4560 scores 301 against 299 for the Core i7-975, a 0.7% delta. This is the tightest multi-core margin in the head-to-head set. The i7-975's 8 threads should theoretically dominate this workload, yet the Pentium's architectural efficiency closes the gap entirely.

Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: 1258 for the Pentium versus 1249 for the i7-975, again 0.7%. The R23 multi-core test shows 2996 versus 2974, also 0.7%. The consistency of the 0.7% delta across all multi-core tests suggests a stable performance relationship between these two processors.

Single-core results favor the Pentium by slightly larger margins. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 177 versus 175, a 1.1% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 423 versus 419, a 1% delta. The Pentium's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.33 GHz, combined with the newer Kaby Lake architecture, explains this edge.

The average benchmark scores confirm the head-to-head results. The Pentium G4560 averages 1031 across the database, while the Core i7-975 averages 1023. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs. The Pentium's nearest rivals include the AMD A12-9800E at 1033 (0.2% behind), the AMD A10-9700 at 1034 (0.3% behind), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B at 1027 (0.4% ahead). The i7-975's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (no delta), the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T at 1024 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 at 1022 (0.1% behind).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Pentium G4560 outperforms the Intel Core i7-975 in every recorded benchmark. The Pentium wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, from R15 multi-core to R23 single-core, with deltas between 0.7% and 1.1%. The average benchmark score also favors the Pentium, 1031 to 1023.

The Core i7-975 offers more cores, more threads, and more L3 cache, but these advantages do not translate into measured performance wins. The i7-975's 45 nm process node and Nehalem architecture cannot match the efficiency of the Pentium G4560's 14 nm Kaby Lake design. The i7-975 also consumes 130 W versus 51 W for the Pentium, making the Pentium the more efficient choice by a wide margin.

Users should pick the Pentium G4560 for all recorded workloads. It wins single-core and multi-core tests alike, supports DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth, includes integrated graphics, and remains an active production part. The i7-975 is end-of-life and offers no measured advantage in any benchmark category.

The Core i7-975 may appeal to users who value its unlocked multiplier for overclocking or its triple-channel memory interface, but the database records no benchmark results reflecting those advantages. In stock configuration, the Pentium G4560 is the faster processor.

For new builds, the Pentium G4560 is the only sensible choice given its active production status and superior measured performance. For legacy systems already on Socket 1366, the i7-975 remains functional but offers no performance benefit over the Pentium in the recorded data. The benchmark results are consistent across every test, leaving no ambiguity in the verdict: the Pentium G4560 is the better processor.