Core i5-4430S

The Core i5-4430S is a 4-core / 4-thread processor based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process node. It reaches a maximum boost clock of 3.2 GHz from a base frequency of 2.7 GHz— higher boost clocks directly translate to better single-threaded performance and responsiveness in gaming. With a massive 6144 kB (total) L3 cache (3D V-Cache technology), this processor has a significant gaming advantage — the large cache drastically reduces memory latency in game engines., plus 256 kB (per core) of L2 cache and 64 kB (per core) of L1 cache per core. In the PassMark benchmark (a comprehensive multi-threaded test), it scores 4,376, placing it in the Entry Level performance tier as a Legacy generation product. Geekbench 6 single-core (the most relevant metric for gaming FPS) records 877, while multi-core reaches 2,397.

The Core i5-4430S fits into the LGA1150 socket and supports PCIe 3.0 with 16 total PCIe lanes for expansion cards and storage. It supports DDR3 memory at speeds up to DDR3-1600 (faster RAM improves bandwidth-sensitive workloads), with a maximum capacity of 32 GB across 2 channels (dual-channel doubles bandwidth). Integrated graphics: HD Graphics 4600 — allows display output without a dedicated GPU, useful for troubleshooting and light tasks.

The Core i5-4430S is primarily designed for Budget. Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT — enables running virtual machines efficiently (important for development and server workloads). Its primary market competitor is the Ryzen 3 1200.

The Core i5-4430S has a rated TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 65 Watt — this indicates the amount of heat generated under sustained load and determines what cooling solution is needed. It ships with the Yes stock cooler. Recommended cooling: Stock.

At an average price of $90 (MSRP: $182), the Core i5-4430S delivers 49 PassMark points per dollar. Performance ranking position: #1959 out of all indexed processors.