CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570TE and Intel Core i3-4350 are both 22 nm Haswell parts on the Intel Socket 1150 platform, sharing the same dual-core, four-thread configuration and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The data, however, shows a clear split in design philosophy: the i5-4570TE is a 35 W low-power part with a 2.70 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost, while the i3-4350 is a 54 W desktop chip running at a fixed 3.60 GHz. This difference in thermal envelope and clock strategy dictates the entire benchmark narrative. Across every single head-to-head test, the i3-4350 emerges victorious, but the margins are consistent and tell a story of clock-speed dominance rather than architectural superiority.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the uniformity of the i3-4350's lead. In the five head-to-head tests provided, the i3-4350 wins all of them, with deltaPct values ranging from -12.6% to -13.2% relative to the i5-4570TE. This is not a case of one chip winning a specific workload type; it is a systematic advantage across both single-core and multi-core rendering tests.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i3-4350 scoring 309 against 270 for the i5-4570TE, a delta of -12.6%. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3-4350 posts 1291 versus 1126, a -12.8% difference. The trend continues in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the i3-4350 scoring 3076 and the i5-4570TE at 2681, again a -12.8% delta. The consistency here is notable: regardless of the rendering engine's version or the workload duration, the i3-4350 maintains roughly a 13% advantage in multi-threaded tasks. This suggests the i5-4570TE's lower base clock cannot be fully compensated by its boost clock in sustained multi-core workloads, where the i3-4350's constant 3.60 GHz operates without thermal throttling concerns.

Single-core results mirror the multi-core picture, but with a slightly larger margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-4350 scores 182 against 158 for the i5-4570TE, a -13.2% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 434 versus 378, a -12.9% difference. The i5-4570TE's theoretical boost clock of 3.30 GHz is 300 MHz lower than the i3-4350's fixed 3.60 GHz, and the benchmark scores reflect this gap almost exactly. It is worth noting that the i5-4570TE does not appear in the single-core Geekbench head-to-head, but its standalone Geekbench single-core score of 966 can be contextually compared to its own multi-core score of 1857, showing a typical 1.92x scaling ratio between the two tests.

The average benchmark scores provide additional context. The i5-4570TE has an average benchmark score of 1062 across all its tested workloads, while the i3-4350 averages 1058. This is a near-parity situation, with the i5-4570TE actually holding a 0.4% edge in the aggregate. This discrepancy between the head-to-head losses and the overall average is explained by the benchmark mix: the i5-4570TE's Geekbench results are not included in the head-to-head set, and those scores (1857 multi, 966 single) are relatively strong for its class, pulling its average up. Meanwhile, the i3-4350 lacks Geekbench data in this pack, so its average is derived purely from the five Cinebench tests, where it is consistently faster. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm they occupy a similar performance tier: the i5-4570TE sits within 0.2% of the AMD Opteron 4376 HE, Intel Core i5-2380P, Intel Core i3-4360, and Intel Xeon W3580, while the i3-4350 is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, Intel Core i7-2760QM, AMD FX-8320E, and Intel Pentium G4600.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-4350 wins in every scenario where raw clock speed is the dominant factor. Its fixed 3.60 GHz clock, 33% higher than the i5-4570TE's base clock, gives it a decisive edge in latency-sensitive tasks and lightly-threaded applications. The Cinebench single-core results, with a -13.2% delta, are the clearest evidence of this. For users running applications that rely on a single thread for the primary logic loop, such as older games, spreadsheet calculations, or certain legacy software, the i3-4350 will deliver a tangible, measurable improvement. The multi-core results, while also favoring the i3-4350, show a slightly smaller margin (-12.6% to -12.8%), indicating that the i5-4570TE's boost clock does help in threaded workloads, but not enough to overcome the base clock deficit.

The i5-4570TE wins on efficiency and thermal characteristics, though this is not directly benchmarked in the performance data. Its 35 W TDP versus the i3-4350's 54 W TDP makes it the clear choice for systems where cooling and power budgets are constrained. In a compact desktop or an always-on server environment, the i5-4570TE's lower power draw can translate to quieter operation and lower system-level temperatures, even if it sacrifices 12-13% raw performance. The chip's Geekbench scores, while not part of the head-to-head comparison, suggest it is not a slouch in general-purpose computing; a Geekbench multi-core score of 1857 and single-core of 966 place it comfortably in the 29th percentile of all CPUs, identical to the i3-4350's percentile ranking. This means both chips are statistically equivalent in the broader CPU landscape, even though they diverge in specific tests.

There is no benchmark category in this data where the i5-4570TE beats the i3-4350. The winsA field is 0, and winsB is 5. Therefore, the i5-4570TE's "win" is entirely qualitative: it is the lower-power part, making it suitable for passive cooling setups or systems with minimal airflow, where the i3-4350's 54 W envelope might be problematic. For anyone who prioritizes raw compute throughput, the i3-4350 is the unequivocal choice.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-4350 is the faster processor in every measured workload, with a consistent 12.6% to 13.2% advantage over the Intel Core i5-4570TE. For a user building a desktop for general productivity, content creation, or light gaming, the i3-4350's higher fixed clock speed delivers a tangible performance benefit. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3076 versus 2681 for the i5-4570TE is a 395-point gap, representing roughly 15% more throughput in a modern rendering workload. The single-core scores tell the same story: 434 versus 378, a 56-point difference that will be felt in any single-threaded application.

The i5-4570TE is for a niche audience. Its 35 W TDP makes it a candidate for systems where power efficiency is paramount, such as a home server, a network-attached storage device, or a fanless industrial PC. In those environments, the 19 W TDP difference between the two chips can significantly impact system design, allowing for smaller heatsinks and quieter fans. However, the performance penalty is real and consistent. If a user's workload is not constrained by thermal limits, the i3-4350 offers better performance for the same architectural generation and platform. The i5-4570TE's Geekbench average score of 1062, while higher than the i3-4350's 1058, is misleading because it includes tests that are not part of the head-to-head comparison; in the tests where both chips are directly compared, the i3-4350 wins every time. Choose the i3-4350 for performance, choose the i5-4570TE only if the 35 W power envelope is a hard requirement.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-4350 is faster across all multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 3076 versus 2681 for the i5-4570TE, a -12.8% delta. The R15 and R20 multicore tests show similar margins, with scores of 309 vs 270 and 1291 vs 1126, respectively.

Q: Is the i5-4570TE's boost clock enough to beat the i3-4350?

A: No. The i5-4570TE boosts to 3.30 GHz, but the i3-4350 runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz. Benchmark results show the i3-4350 leads in single-core tests by 13.2% in Cinebench R20 (182 vs 158) and 12.9% in Cinebench R23 (434 vs 378).

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i5-4570TE and the Intel Core i3-4350 have 2 cores and 4 threads, and both share 4 MB of L3 cache. They also have identical 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 caches per core.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two chips?

A: The i5-4570TE has a 35 W TDP, while the i3-4350 has a 54 W TDP. This 19 W difference is a significant factor for system builders prioritizing power efficiency over performance.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-4570TE has an average benchmark score of 1062, compared to 1058 for the i3-4350. However, this aggregate is influenced by the i5-4570TE's Geekbench scores (1857 multi, 966 single), which are not included in the head-to-head tests, where the i3-4350 wins all five comparisons.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-4570TE is within 0.2% of the AMD Opteron 4376 HE, Intel Core i5-2380P, Intel Core i3-4360, and Intel Xeon W3580. The i3-4350 is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, Intel Core i7-2760QM, AMD FX-8320E, and Intel Pentium G4600.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. They share the same Haswell microarchitecture and codename, which means the core design, instruction set, and memory controller fundamentals are identical. The socket is the same Intel Socket 1150, and both support dual-channel DDR3 memory with PCIe Gen 3. Neither supports ECC memory, and both feature the Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and locked multipliers.

The primary architectural difference is not in the core design but in the clock configuration and power delivery. The i5-4570TE has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, allowing it to dynamically scale up when thermal headroom permits. The i3-4350 has no boost clock, running at a constant 3.60 GHz. This is a fundamental difference in how the two chips are binned and configured: the i5-4570TE is engineered for low power consumption, as evidenced by its 35 W TDP, while the i3-4350 is optimized for maximum sustained clock speed within a 54 W TDP. The release dates also differ, with the i5-4570TE launching on 2013-06-01 and the i3-4350 on 2014-04-30, a gap of nearly a year. The i5-4570TE has a part number of SR172, while the i3-4350's part number is not listed. Both chips have the same cache hierarchy, with 4 MB of shared L3, but the i5-4570TE's lower clock speed means it will take longer to fill and access that cache, contributing to its performance deficit. The integrated graphics are identical (Intel HD 4600), so any difference in display output capability is negligible. The core count, thread count, and cache sizes are all the same; the sole differentiating factors are clock speeds, TDP, and release timing.