Intel Core i3-7100T vs Intel Core i5-3570 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear overall victory for the Intel Core i5-3570, which wins 6 of the 7 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The i5-3570 dominates in multi-threaded workloads, but the i3-7100T has one significant advantage in single-core performance, which changes the story for certain applications.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3570 scores 421 against the i3-7100T's 319, a 32% lead. The same pattern repeats across the Cinebench R20 and R23 suites. In R20 multi-core, the i5-3570 posts 1758 versus 1333, a 31.9% margin. In R23 multi-core, the gap is again 31.9%, with scores of 4187 and 3175 respectively. These are substantial wins, indicating that the i5-3570's four physical cores provide a meaningful advantage in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The single-core Cinebench results also favor the i5-3570, though with the same 31.9% delta in both R20 and R23. The i5-3570 scores 248 in R20 single-core versus 188 for the i3-7100T, and 591 versus 448 in R23 single-core. This is a surprising result given the i3-7100T's newer architecture, but the data is consistent across both test versions.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-3570 wins narrowly with 2251 against 2230, a mere 0.9% margin. This is a much closer result than the Cinebench tests, suggesting that the i3-7100T's four threads can keep pace more effectively in some multi-threaded scenarios. However, in Geekbench single-core, the i3-7100T wins decisively with 1111 against 770, a 30.7% advantage for the newer chip.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i5-3570 has an average benchmark score of 1286, placing it in the 35th percentile of all CPUs. The i3-7100T averages 1258, sitting at the 34th percentile. The i5-3570's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4670R at an identical 1286 average, the AMD Opteron 6272 at 1288 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-3630QM at 1289 (0.3% ahead). The i3-7100T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3615QM at 1260 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Athlon 200GE at 1261 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Xeon W-2102 at 1264 (0.5% ahead). Both CPUs are closely matched in their respective peer groups.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3570 is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering and content creation workloads. Its 32% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 31.9% leads in R20 and R23 multi-core demonstrate that applications which scale across cores will run significantly faster on the older chip. The four physical cores versus two physical cores with four threads is the deciding factor here. Even in Geekbench multi-core, where the i3-7100T comes close, the i5-3570 still edges ahead by 0.9%.

The i3-7100T wins specifically in Geekbench single-core performance, where its 30.7% advantage over the i5-3570 is substantial. This suggests that lightly threaded applications, such as legacy software, some games, or tasks that rely heavily on a single processing thread, will perform better on the newer architecture. The i3-7100T's Kaby Lake design, despite having fewer cores, delivers higher instructions per clock in this particular benchmark.

For mixed workloads, the picture is nuanced. The i3-7100T matches the i5-3570 much more closely in Geekbench multi-core than in Cinebench, indicating that different benchmark suites stress the processors differently. The i5-3570's consistent Cinebench wins make it the safer choice for rendering, while the i3-7100T's Geekbench single-core win makes it preferable for responsive, single-threaded tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570 has an average benchmark score of 1286, compared to 1258 for the Intel Core i3-7100T, a difference of 28 points.

Q: How large is the i5-3570's lead in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The i5-3570 leads by 32% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 31.9% in both R20 and R23 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the i3-7100T win any benchmark comparisons?

A: Yes, the i3-7100T wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1111 versus 770 for the i5-3570, a 30.7% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The i5-3570 scores 2251 and the i3-7100T scores 2230, making the i5-3570 the winner by a narrow 0.9% margin.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for these CPUs?

A: The i5-3570 is in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the i3-7100T is in the 34th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The i5-3570 has 4 physical cores, while the i3-7100T has 2 physical cores with 4 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i5-3570 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-7100T has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both have a base clock of 3.40 GHz, but the i5-3570 also has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i3-7100T has no boost clock listed.

The i5-3570 has a TDP of 77 watts, more than double the i3-7100T's 35 watts, reflecting the older chip's higher power draw. The i5-3570 uses the Intel Socket 1155, while the i3-7100T uses the Intel Socket 1151, meaning they are not interchangeable in motherboards.

Memory support differs significantly. The i5-3570 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-7100T supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This gives the i3-7100T a 50% bandwidth advantage.

The integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3570 has Intel HD 2500, while the i3-7100T has Intel HD 630. The i5-3570 has a launch MSRP of $194, while the i3-7100T has no launch MSRP recorded. Production status also differs, with the i5-3570 marked as end-of-life and the i3-7100T marked as active.

Architecture Differences

The i5-3570 is built on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture, using a 22 nm process node. Its transistor count is 1,400 million, and it has a die size of 160 mm². The i3-7100T uses Intel's Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, but its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations also diverge. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the L3 cache differs: the i5-3570 has 6 MB shared across its four cores, while the i3-7100T has 3 MB shared across its two cores. This means the i5-3570 has twice the total L3 cache.

Both CPUs use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates are far apart: the i5-3570 was released on 2012-05-31, while the i3-7100T was released on 2017-01-02, a gap of nearly five years. The part numbers are SR0T7 for the i5-3570 and SR35P for the i3-7100T.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-3570 for multi-threaded performance. Its 32% and 31.9% leads across all Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests make it the stronger choice for rendering, encoding, and any workload that uses multiple cores. The i5-3570 also wins Geekbench multi-core, though narrowly, and its overall average benchmark score is 2.2% higher than the i3-7100T's.

The Intel Core i3-7100T should be chosen for scenarios where Geekbench single-core performance is the priority. Its 30.7% advantage in that specific test indicates better performance in lightly threaded applications. The i3-7100T also offers a much lower TDP of 35 watts versus 77 watts, making it more suitable for compact or power-sensitive builds, and its DDR4 memory support provides higher bandwidth for memory-intensive tasks.

However, the i3-7100T's single-core win in Geekbench does not translate to single-core wins in Cinebench, where the i5-3570 leads by 31.9% in both R20 and R23. This inconsistency suggests that the i3-7100T's advantage is limited to specific benchmark methodologies rather than being a general single-core superiority.

For most users, the i5-3570 is the better processor based on benchmark outcomes alone. It wins 6 of 7 head-to-head comparisons, has a higher average score, and dominates in rendering workloads. The i3-7100T is the pick only for those who prioritize Geekbench single-core scores, lower power consumption, or DDR4 memory compatibility, all of which are valid but narrower criteria. The i5-3570's end-of-life status and higher TDP are drawbacks, but the recorded data shows it remains the stronger performer overall.