Core i5-4440 vs Core i3-7320

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

The Core i5-4440 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7320 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-4440 versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-7320 — 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: H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i5-4440) and B250,H270,Z270,Q250,Q270 (Core i3-7320).

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

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