i7-4600U vs i3-4170

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1820	2050
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.55	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	no data	Intel Core i7
Power efficiency	4.00	10.79
Architecture codename	Haswell (2013−2015)	Haswell-ULT (2013)
Release date	1 May 2014 (10 years ago)	1 September 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$117	$398

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.3 GHz
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Die size	177 mm2	118 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1,400 million	1,300 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1150	FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)	54 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	-	+
Smart Response	no data	+
GPIO	no data	+
Smart Connect	no data	+
FDI	no data	+
AMT	no data	9.5
HD Audio	no data	+
RST	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
Identity Protection	-	+
Anti-Theft	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U are enumerated here.

AMD-V	-	+
VT-d	-	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600	DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 4400	Intel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memory	2 GB	2 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
DVI	+	no data
VGA	+	+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	3840x2160@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	3840x2160@60Hz	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	1920x1200@60Hz	N/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	11.1/12	11.2/12
OpenGL	4.3	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U.

PCIe version	Up to 3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	12
PCI support	no data	-
USB revision	no data	3.0
Total number of SATA ports	no data	4
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	no data	4
Integrated IDE	no data	-
Number of USB ports	no data	4
Integrated LAN	no data	-
UART	no data	+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

---

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	2.28	1.71
Recency	1 May 2014	1 September 2013
Power consumption (TDP)	54 Watt	15 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-4170 and Core i7-4600U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---