Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Core i5-4570 Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear generational split: the newer Intel Core i3-1115G4 wins the majority of head-to-head tests, taking 13 of 19 comparisons, while the older Intel Core i5-4570 secures 6 wins. However, the nature of those victories reveals that this is not a simple case of one chip being universally superior. The i3-1115G4 dominates in single-threaded and modern instruction workloads, while the i5-4570 retains advantages in specific multi-core and memory-intensive tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the Intel Core i3-1115G4 comes in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 3339 against the i5-4570's 1321, a massive 60.4% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, highlighting the i3's superior cryptographic instruction support. The i3 also shows a strong lead in single-thread performance, with a 21.7% advantage in Geekbench single-core (1330 vs 1041) and a matching 21.4% lead in PassMark single-thread (2585 vs 2033). These results are consistent across Cinebench, where the i3 wins all six iterations: R15 single-core by 10%, R15 multi-core by 10.1%, R20 single-core by 9.9%, R20 multi-core by 9.9%, R23 single-core by 9.9%, and R23 multi-core by 10%.

The i3-1115G4 also wins in integer math, scoring 17472 versus 15415, an 11.8% margin. Its PassMark multithread score of 5915 beats the i5's 5238 by 11.4%, and it edges out the i5 in physics (410 vs 395, a 3.7% gain). The i5-4570's victories are narrower in some cases but still significant. Its largest win is in PassMark random string sorting, where it scores 9992 against 7662, a 30.4% advantage. It also wins PassMark extended instructions by 29.9% (5961 vs 4588), find prime numbers by 24% (31 vs 25), and data compression by 20.1% (75010 vs 62444). The i5 takes Geekbench multicore by a substantial 26.5% (3118 vs 2465), and floating-point math by 8.5% (11706 vs 10791).

The pattern is consistent: the i3-1115G4 wins on modern, short-burst workloads and encryption, while the i5-4570 wins on sustained multi-core tasks like compression, sorting, and extended instruction sets. The i5's single Geekbench multicore win is notable, as it suggests that in certain synthetic multi-core scenarios, the older chip's four physical cores can outperform the i3's two cores with Hyper-Threading.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras. The Intel Core i5-4570 is a desktop chip built on the Haswell architecture, released in June 2013, using a 22 nm process node from Intel. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its thermal design power (TDP) is 84 watts, and it uses the Intel Socket 1150. The i5-4570 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, uses PCIe Gen 3, and features integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 is a mobile processor based on the Tiger Lake architecture (specifically Tiger Lake-U, using Willow Cove cores). It was released in September 2020 and remains an active production part. It uses Intel's 10 nm process and has a die size of 144 mm², though transistor count is not recorded. The i3 has only 2 cores but 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its TDP is just 15 watts, reflecting a mobile design. It uses Intel BGA 1449 socket and supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory on a dual-channel bus. Its cache layout is different: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. It supports PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only) and includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4.

The core count difference is the most obvious architectural divergence. The i5-4570 has twice the physical cores, but the i3-1115G4 compensates with Hyper-Threading, matching the i5's 4 threads. The i3 also has a significantly higher boost clock, 4.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, which contributes to its single-thread dominance. The i3's larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB vs 256 KB) and higher L1 cache (80 KB vs 64 KB) suggest a more efficient per-core design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4 has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-4570 has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Q: Does the i5-4570 have more cores than the i3-1115G4?

A: Yes, the i5-4570 has 4 physical cores, while the i3-1115G4 has 2 cores. However, both processors support 4 threads, as the i3 uses Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the memory support difference?

A: The i5-4570 supports only DDR3 memory, while the i3-1115G4 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115G4 is consistently faster in single-core tests. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 696 versus 627, and Geekbench single-core with 1330 versus 1041.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The i5-4570 features Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the i3-1115G4 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The i5-4570 has a TDP of 84 watts, while the i3-1115G4 has a TDP of just 15 watts, reflecting its mobile design.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i3-1115G4 for most general-purpose and modern workloads. Its 13 wins out of 19 head-to-head tests, combined with consistent single-thread leadership, make it the better choice for tasks that rely on per-core performance, such as everyday responsiveness, office applications, and encryption-heavy work. The i3's 60.4% lead in data encryption and 21.7% lead in Geekbench single-core are decisive indicators of its architectural superiority.

However, the Intel Core i5-4570 remains relevant in specific scenarios. Its 26.5% victory in Geekbench multicore and 30.4% win in random string sorting suggest that workloads which scale well with more physical cores, or which involve large data sets that fit in the shared cache, can still favor the older chip. The i5 also wins in extended instructions and prime number calculation, indicating strength in certain computational tasks.

For a user choosing between these two, the decision hinges on usage patterns. If the workload is modern, varied, and includes single-threaded tasks, the i3-1115G4 is the superior processor. If the workload is heavily multi-threaded with large data operations, the i5-4570 may still hold an edge. The i5-4570's 84W TDP and desktop socket also suggest it is meant for stationary systems, while the i3-1115G4's 15W TDP and mobile BGA socket indicate it is designed for laptops and portable devices.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The i5-4570 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i5's base clock is 3.20 GHz versus the i3's 2.20 GHz, but the i3's boost clock of 4.10 GHz exceeds the i5's 3.60 GHz. The TDP difference is stark: 84 watts for the i5 versus 15 watts for the i3. The i5 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1449. The architecture is Haswell for the i5 and Tiger Lake for the i3. The process node is 22 nm for the i5 and 10 nm for the i3. The i5 has a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors, while the i3 has a 144 mm² die with no recorded transistor count.

Cache configurations differ significantly: the i5 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the i3 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 6 MB of L3. Memory support is DDR3 for the i5 and DDR4/LPDDR4X for the i3. The i5 uses PCIe Gen 3, while the i3 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 for the i5 and Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 for the i3. The market segment is Desktop for the i5 and Mobile for the i3. The i5 was released in June 2013, while the i3 was released in September 2020. The i3's launch MSRP was $281. The i5 is not overclockable, and neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4570 wins in six recorded benchmark categories. Its strongest performance is in random string sorting, with a 30.4% advantage, followed by extended instructions at 29.9%. It also wins Geekbench multicore by 26.5%, data compression by 20.1%, find prime numbers by 24%, and floating-point math by 8.5%. These wins suggest the i5 is better suited for data manipulation tasks, complex instruction sets, and workloads that benefit from four physical cores handling parallel operations.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 wins in 13 recorded categories, including all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single and multi-core). Its largest win is data encryption at 60.4%, followed by single-thread tests at 21.4% and 21.7%, and integer math at 11.8%. It also wins PassMark multithread by 11.4% and physics by 3.7%. The i3 is the clear choice for encryption, single-threaded applications, integer-heavy workloads, and modern rendering benchmarks like Cinebench. Its high boost clock and newer architecture give it a decisive edge in these areas, making it the better all-around processor for contemporary software.