Core i3-7320 vs Core i5-4440

The Core i3-7320 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4440 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-4440 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i3-7320 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-4440 — a 21.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-7320 (base: 4.1 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-7320 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-4440 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7320 scores 4,831 against the Core i5-4440's 4,788 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-7320. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,388 vs 1,031, a 29.5% lead for the Core i3-7320 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-7320 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4440.

The Core i3-7320 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4440 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-7320 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-4440 — the Core i3-7320 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-7320 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B250,H270,Z270,Q250,Q270 (Core i3-7320) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i5-4440).

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7320) and HD Graphics 4600 (Core i5-4440) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7320 targets Mainstream Desktop, Core i5-4440 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-7320 rivals Ryzen 3 1300X; Core i5-4440 rivals Ryzen 3 1200.

The Core i3-7320 launched at $99 MSRP, while the Core i5-4440 debuted at $184. At current prices ($40 vs $101), the Core i3-7320 is $61 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-7320 delivers 120.8 pts/$ vs 47.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-4440 — making the Core i3-7320 the 87.3% better value option.