AMD Ryzen 5 2500U vs Intel Core i5-4570TE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570TE and AMD Ryzen 5 2500U are both 29th-percentile processors, yet their benchmark profiles reveal fundamentally different strengths. The Ryzen 5 2500U dominates multi-threaded workloads, delivering 609 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus the i5-4570TE’s 270, a 55.7% deficit for Intel. Conversely, the i5-4570TE takes the single-core crown in Geekbench, scoring 966 against the Ryzen’s 851, a 13.5% advantage. These are not interchangeable parts; the data points to a clear split between mobile multi-tasking and legacy desktop responsiveness.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is decisively faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 609 versus the Intel i5-4570TE’s 270, a 55.7% lead. In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen scores 2635 against Intel’s 1857, a 29.5% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570TE wins the single-core contest. Its Geekbench single-core score of 966 beats the Ryzen 5 2500U’s 851, representing a 13.5% higher result for Intel.

Q: How does the core and thread count differ between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4570TE has 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives AMD a 2x advantage in both core and thread counts.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U has a 15 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-4570TE has a 35 W TDP. AMD’s chip is rated for less than half the power draw of Intel’s part.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-4570TE supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but has no listed bandwidth figure.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570TE is built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: choose the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U for any workload that scales with cores and threads. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 609 is more than double the i5-4570TE’s 270, and its Geekbench multi-core result of 2635 outperforms Intel’s 1857 by a wide margin. The Ryzen also does this within a 15 W TDP envelope, making it the superior choice for sustained multi-threaded tasks in mobile systems. The i5-4570TE is the pick only when raw single-threaded responsiveness is the absolute priority. Its Geekbench single-core score of 966 beats the Ryzen’s 851, and its 13.5% lead in that test suggests snappier performance in lightly threaded applications. However, the i5’s 35 W TDP and 2-core design limit its appeal; the Ryzen offers nearly double the multi-core muscle while consuming less power. For almost all real-world scenarios, the Ryzen 5 2500U is the more capable processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Here, the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 609, while the i5-4570TE manages only 270. That is a 55.7% deficit for Intel, a crushing margin that reflects the Ryzen’s 4-core/8-thread configuration against Intel’s 2-core/4-thread design. The Ryzen’s victory is not narrow; it is a class-level difference.

Geekbench multi-core tells a similar story, though with a smaller gap. The Ryzen 5 2500U posts 2635 points, against 1857 for the i5-4570TE. The 29.5% delta confirms that the AMD chip’s advantage persists across different benchmark suites, reinforcing its multi-threaded superiority. The i5-4570TE, by contrast, cannot close the gap even in a test that often favors higher clock speeds.

The single-core result flips the script. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-4570TE scores 966, outpacing the Ryzen 5 2500U’s 851 by 13.5%. This shows Intel’s older Haswell architecture still holds an edge in per-thread performance, likely due to its higher 3.30 GHz boost clock versus the Ryzen’s 3.60 GHz boost, which is offset by architectural differences. The i5 also has no Cinebench R15 single-core score listed, while the Ryzen posts 137, so the Intel win is isolated to Geekbench.

Overall, the head-to-head data shows 2 wins for the Ryzen 5 2500U and 1 win for the i5-4570TE. The margins tell the real story: AMD’s wins are large (55.7% and 29.5%), while Intel’s is moderate (13.5%). The Ryzen’s multi-core dominance is the defining metric of this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i5-4570TE is a desktop part with 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is a mobile chip with 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen’s base clock is listed as 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz), while the i5 runs at 2.70 GHz; however, the Ryzen boosts higher to 3.60 GHz versus the i5’s 3.30 GHz.

Power consumption diverges sharply. The i5-4570TE has a 35 W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 2500U is rated at just 15 W. This makes the Ryzen a far more efficient part on paper, especially given its higher core count.

Memory support also differs. The i5-4570TE uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus, while the Ryzen 5 2500U supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5.

The integrated graphics are different as well. Intel pairs the i5-4570TE with Intel HD 4600, while AMD equips the Ryzen 5 2500U with Radeon Vega 8. The Ryzen’s PCIe configuration is listed as Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 supports PCIe Gen 3 without a specific lane count.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips spans four years and two process generations. The Intel Core i5-4570TE is built on the Haswell architecture, codenamed Haswell, using a 22 nm process from Intel’s own foundry. It packs 1,400 million transistors onto a 177 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U uses the Zen architecture with the codename Raven Ridge, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. This newer node allows AMD to fit 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die.

Cache layouts reinforce the core-count disparity. The i5-4570TE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 2500U offers 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, also with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD’s larger per-core caches align with its higher thread count.

The market segments are opposite. The i5-4570TE is a desktop processor, while the Ryzen 5 2500U is a mobile processor. The release dates reflect this: Intel’s chip launched in June 2013, while AMD’s arrived in October 2017. The Ryzen is listed as having an Active production status, while the i5 has no production status listed.

Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 5 2500U belongs to the 2000 series and has the part number YM2500C4T4MFB, while the i5-4570TE carries the part number SR172.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U wins in all multi-threaded scenarios. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 609 versus 270 for the i5-4570TE means tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, and compiling will finish more than twice as fast on the Ryzen. The Geekbench multi-core result of 2635 versus 1857 reinforces this, showing the Ryzen’s 4-core/8-thread design scales effectively across diverse workloads. Moreover, the Ryzen achieves this with a 15 W TDP, making it the clear choice for thin-and-light laptops where sustained multi-core performance is needed without excessive heat or battery drain.

The Intel Core i5-4570TE wins in single-threaded responsiveness. Its Geekbench single-core score of 966 beats the Ryzen’s 851, a 13.5% margin. This translates to faster performance in older or poorly optimized applications that rely on a single thread, such as legacy office software, certain database queries, or emulated environments. The i5’s 2-core design also means it has fewer threads to manage, which can reduce scheduling overhead in some lightweight desktop tasks. However, this victory is narrow and isolated to a single benchmark, whereas the Ryzen’s wins are broad and decisive.

For users prioritizing multi-core throughput and power efficiency, the Ryzen 5 2500U is the unambiguous winner. For those locked into a legacy desktop platform (Intel Socket 1150) with DDR3 memory and needing maximum single-thread speed, the i5-4570TE remains a viable, if dated, option. The data shows no scenario where the i5-4570TE’s multi-core performance can compete, and its single-core advantage does not compensate for a 55.7% deficit in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The Ryzen 5 2500U is the better processor for virtually every modern workload.