Core i3-4170 vs Core i3-4350

Both the Core i3-4170 and Core i3-4350 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-4350 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). Both are built on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture using a 22 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i3-4170 scores 3,626 against the Core i3-4350's 3,611 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-4170. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,140 vs 951, a 18.1% lead for the Core i3-4170 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,897 vs 1,827 (3.8% advantage for the Core i3-4170). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-4350.

Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1150 (Core i3-4170) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i3-4350).

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170) vs VT-x (Core i3-4350). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3-4170) and Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Core i3-4350) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4350 targets Office Desktop.

The Core i3-4170 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Core i3-4350 debuted at $138. At current prices ($40 vs $130), the Core i3-4170 is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4170 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 27.8 pts/$ for the Core i3-4350 — making the Core i3-4170 the 106.2% better value option.