Pentium G4600 vs Core i3-4170
Pentium G4600
Core i3-4170
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Pentium G4600 is positioned at rank 466 and the Core i3-4170 is on rank 585, so the Pentium G4600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G4600
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($116) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+190%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($116) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium G4600 and Core i3-4170
Pentium G4600
The Pentium G4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,629 points. Launch price was $87.
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G4600 and Core i3-4170 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Pentium G4600 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Pentium G4600 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-4170 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G4600 scores 3,629 against the Core i3-4170's 3,626 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G4600. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,629 | 3,626 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,140 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,897 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G4600 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4170 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G4600) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Pentium G4600 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G4600 launched at $82 MSRP, while the Core i3-4170 debuted at $117. At current prices ($116 vs $40), the Core i3-4170 is $76 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G4600 delivers 31.3 pts/$ vs 90.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-4170 — making the Core i3-4170 the 97.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G4600 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $82-30% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $116 | $40-66% |
| Performance per Dollar | 31.3 | 90.7+190% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2014 |
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