Intel Core i3-4150 vs Intel Core i5-3570T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split: the Intel Core i5-3570T dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the Intel Core i3-4150 counters decisively in Geekbench. The i5-3570T wins five of the seven recorded tests, but the i3-4150's two victories are substantial enough to shape the overall picture.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3570T scores 331 against the i3-4150's 290, a 14.1% advantage. The pattern holds across every Cinebench iteration tested. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-3570T records 1383 versus 1212, again 14.1% ahead. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3293 against 2888, a 14% lead. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same trajectory: R20 single-core at 195 versus 170 (14.7% delta), and R23 single-core at 465 versus 407 (14.3% delta). The consistency across these tests suggests the i5-3570T's architectural advantage translates uniformly through Cinebench's rendering-oriented workload.

The Geekbench results invert the picture dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-4150 scores 1896 against the i5-3570T's 1705, a 10.1% margin. Geekbench single-core is even more lopsided: the i3-4150 scores 968 versus 578, a 40.3% advantage. This is the largest delta recorded between the two processors in any test, and it reveals a fundamental behavioral difference. The i3-4150's single-core performance is nearly 68% higher in raw score terms, while its multicore score still manages to surpass the quad-core i5-3570T despite having only two physical cores.

Interpreting these numbers requires noting the benchmark mix. The i5-3570T's wins are all in Cinebench, which stresses sustained multithreaded rendering. The i3-4150's wins are in Geekbench, which includes a broader mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations. The average benchmark score tells a nuanced story: the i5-3570T averages 1136, while the i3-4150 averages 1119, a difference of roughly 1.5%. Both processors sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy a similar performance tier overall despite their divergent test results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and microarchitectures, which explains their benchmark behavior. The i5-3570T uses Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 160 mm². The i3-4150 uses Haswell, also on a 22 nm process but with a larger die at 177 mm². Both integrate 1,400 million transistors, so the die size difference reflects Haswell's more complex internal design rather than additional transistor count.

Core configuration differs sharply. The i5-3570T has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i3-4150 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads, leveraging hyper-threading to present four logical processors. This explains why the i5-3570T wins Cinebench multicore tests: it has two additional physical execution units. However, the i3-4150's higher base clock compensates in workloads that scale with clock speed rather than core count.

Clock speeds tell a critical story. The i5-3570T runs at a base clock of 2.30 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The i3-4150 runs at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and has no boost clock listed. The i3-4150's base clock is 52% higher than the i5-3570T's base clock, and even when the i5-3570T boosts to its maximum, the i3-4150 still runs 6% faster. This clock advantage drives the i3-4150's dominant single-core Geekbench performance.

Cache hierarchy also differs. The i5-3570T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4150 has only 3 MB. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) configurations. The larger L3 cache on the i5-3570T benefits the four-core design, as each core has more shared cache to work with. The i3-4150's smaller L3 cache is less of a liability given its lower core count.

Other differences include socket compatibility. The i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4150 uses Intel Socket 1150, meaning they are not interchangeable in motherboards. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5-3570T has Intel HD 2500, while the i3-4150 has Intel HD 4400. The i3-4150's newer integrated graphics architecture likely offers better iGPU performance, though no benchmark data in the database confirms this directly.

Memory support is identical in key respects: both use DDR3 with dual-channel buses. The i3-4150 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-3570T does not have a bandwidth figure recorded. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3570T is the clear choice for multithreaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore scores all exceed the i3-4150 by 14% or more. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or other tasks that scale with physical core count, the i5-3570T's four cores provide a tangible advantage. The database shows this processor also wins single-core Cinebench tests, though by smaller margins (14.1% to 14.7%), suggesting its per-core efficiency in that specific benchmark suite is higher despite the lower clock speed.

The i3-4150 wins where clock speed matters more than core count. Its Geekbench single-core score of 968 versus 578 (40.3% higher) indicates superior performance in latency-sensitive, single-threaded applications. The Geekbench multicore score also favors the i3-4150 (1896 versus 1705), meaning that even with two fewer physical cores, hyper-threading plus a 3.50 GHz base clock allows it to edge out the i5-3570T in this benchmark's mixed workload.

For general desktop responsiveness, the i3-4150's higher clock speed likely translates to snappier application launching and single-threaded productivity tasks. For sustained multithreaded workloads like video rendering or scientific simulation, the i5-3570T's physical core advantage becomes decisive. The i3-4150 also has a newer integrated GPU (HD 4400 versus HD 2500), which may matter for systems without a discrete graphics card, though no benchmark data validates this in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570T has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-4150 has 2 physical cores. Both processors expose 4 threads to the operating system, but the i3-4150 relies on hyper-threading to achieve this.

Q: Why does the i3-4150 win Geekbench single-core by such a large margin?

A: The i3-4150 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz compared to the i5-3570T's 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost clock. This 6% clock advantage at maximum boost, combined with the Haswell architecture's efficiency, produces a 40.3% higher Geekbench single-core score.

Q: Is the i5-3570T faster in all Cinebench tests?

A: Yes. The i5-3570T wins Cinebench R15 multicore (331 versus 290), R20 multicore (1383 versus 1212), R20 single-core (195 versus 170), R23 multicore (3293 versus 2888), and R23 single-core (465 versus 407). The margins range from 14% to 14.7%.

Q: Do these processors use the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-4150 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable in the same motherboard.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The i5-3570T has an average benchmark score of 1136, while the i3-4150 averages 1119. Both rank at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i5-3570T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-4150 has 3 MB. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) caches.

Specification Differences

The processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: i5-3570T has 4; i3-4150 has 2
• Threads: i5-3570T has 4; i3-4150 has 4 (via hyper-threading)
• Base clock: i5-3570T at 2.30 GHz; i3-4150 at 3.50 GHz
• Boost clock: i5-3570T at 3.30 GHz; i3-4150 has no boost clock listed
• TDP: i5-3570T at 45W; i3-4150 at 54W
• Socket: i5-3570T on Intel Socket 1155; i3-4150 on Intel Socket 1150
• Architecture: i5-3570T uses Ivy Bridge; i3-4150 uses Haswell
• Codename: i5-3570T is Ivy Bridge; i3-4150 is Haswell
• Generation: i5-3570T is Core i5 (Ivy Bridge); i3-4150 is Core i3 (Haswell)
• Die size: i5-3570T at 160 mm²; i3-4150 at 177 mm²
• L3 cache: i5-3570T has 6 MB shared; i3-4150 has 3 MB shared
• Memory bandwidth: i5-3570T has no recorded figure; i3-4150 has 25.6 GB/s
• Integrated graphics: i5-3570T has Intel HD 2500; i3-4150 has Intel HD 4400
• Release date: i5-3570T on 2012-04-28; i3-4150 on 2014-04-30
• Production status: i5-3570T has no recorded status; i3-4150 is end-of-life
• Launch MSRP: i5-3570T has no recorded value; i3-4150 has a launch MSRP of $117
• Part number: i5-3570T is SR0P1; i3-4150 is SR1PJ

Shared specifications include manufacturer (Intel), process node (22 nm), foundry (Intel), transistor count (1,400 million), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), memory support (DDR3), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes from CPU), market segment (Desktop), and unlocked multiplier (false).

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward selection based on workload type. The Intel Core i5-3570T is the stronger choice for multithreaded rendering and compute tasks. Its four physical cores deliver consistent 14% advantages across all Cinebench versions tested, and its 45W TDP makes it the more power-efficient option despite the lower clock speed. Users running Cinebench-style workloads, video rendering, or batch processing should favor this processor.

The Intel Core i3-4150 is the better option for single-threaded performance and mixed general-purpose computing. Its 40.3% Geekbench single-core advantage is the largest recorded delta between these two CPUs, and its Geekbench multicore win (1896 versus 1705, a 10.1% margin) shows that hyper-threading plus a 3.50 GHz base clock can overcome a two-core deficit in certain workloads. For users whose applications are not heavily multithreaded, or who prioritize responsiveness in clock-sensitive tasks, the i3-4150 presents a compelling case.

The overall performance tier is nearly identical: both processors sit at the 32nd percentile, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 1.5%. The i5-3570T's average score of 1136 edges out the i3-4150's 1119, but the margin is small. The deciding factor should be the specific application mix. If the workload is dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-3570T's physical cores provide a clear edge. If the workload is more diverse or heavily single-threaded, the i3-4150's clock speed and Haswell architecture make it the more balanced performer.

The i5-3570T also offers a larger L3 cache (6 MB versus 3 MB) and lower TDP (45W versus 54W), which may matter for constrained thermal environments. The i3-4150 counters with a newer integrated GPU (HD 4400 versus HD 2500) and a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory or has an unlocked multiplier, and their incompatible sockets mean the motherboard choice will often dictate which processor is viable.