Core i3-4170T vs Pentium Gold G5400T

Intel

Core i3-4170T

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2015
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium Gold G5400T

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2018
Similar parts
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Core i3-4170T vs Pentium Gold G5400T Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i3-4170T vs Pentium Gold G5400T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-4170T vs Pentium Gold G5400T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-4170T

2015

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4400, while Pentium Gold G5400T needs a discrete GPU.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Pentium Gold G5400T.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (3,133 vs 3,156).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $117 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G5400T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Pentium Gold G5400T

2018

Why buy it

  • +0.7% higher PassMark.
  • +33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

  • No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4170T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-4170T.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G5400T better than Core i3-4170T?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i3-4170T is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold G5400T pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. Pentium Gold G5400T also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold G5400T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Pentium Gold G5400T is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold G5400T comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $117 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Core i3-4170T only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (26.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1150.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium Gold G5400T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2015), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-4170T vs Pentium Gold G5400T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Core i3-4170T

The Core i3-4170T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,133 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Pentium Gold G5400T

The Pentium Gold G5400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,156 points. Launch price was $64.

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-4170T and Pentium Gold G5400T share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-4170T versus 3.1 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5400T — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170T (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-4170T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium Gold G5400T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4170T scores 3,133 against the Pentium Gold G5400T's 3,156 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium Gold G5400T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170T vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold G5400T.

FeatureCore i3-4170TPentium Gold G5400T
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz+3%
3.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.2 GHz+3%
3.1 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB (total)
4 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache
256 kB (per core)
256K (per core)
Process
22 nm
14 nm-36%
Architecture
Haswell (2013−2015)
Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
PassMark
3,133
3,156
Geekbench 6 Single
800
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,600
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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4170T uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G5400T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i3-4170TPentium Gold G5400T
Socket
LGA1150
LGA1151
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170T) / not specified (Pentium Gold G5400T). The Core i3-4170T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4400), while the Pentium Gold G5400T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4170T targets Low Power Desktop.

FeatureCore i3-4170TPentium Gold G5400T
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics 4400
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Low Power Desktop