Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Core i5-4570TE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9100HL and Intel Core i5-4570TE are closely matched in aggregate benchmarking, but the data reveals a clear and consistent winner in nearly every measured workload. The i3-9100HL leads in all head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 15.2% to 15.8%, while the i5-4570TE only appears competitive in the overall average benchmark score. This is a decisive victory for the newer Coffee Lake part, despite its lower thermal design point.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the i3-9100HL wins every single Cinebench comparison. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i3-9100HL scores 311 against 270 for the i5-4570TE, a 15.2% advantage. The margin expands slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i3-9100HL posts 1299 versus 1126, a 15.4% lead. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the i3-9100HL at 3094 and the i5-4570TE at 2681, again a 15.4% difference.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-9100HL scores 183 against 158 for the i5-4570TE, a 15.8% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i3-9100HL at 436 versus 378, a 15.3% advantage. These margins are remarkably consistent, suggesting a fundamental architectural efficiency gain rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i5-4570TE does have a higher base clock (2.70 GHz vs 1.60 GHz) and boost clock (3.30 GHz vs 2.90 GHz), yet it still loses every race — a clear sign that the i3-9100HL’s newer architecture and extra physical cores more than compensate for the clock deficit.

The only benchmark where the i5-4570TE has additional data is Geekbench, where it scores 1857 multicore and 966 single-core. However, no corresponding Geekbench scores exist for the i3-9100HL in the provided data, so a direct comparison is impossible. In the shared Cinebench suite, the i3-9100HL wins all five tests, and the i5-4570TE wins none. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1065 for the i3-9100HL and 1062 for the i5-4570TE — but that aggregate masks the i3-9100HL’s consistent superiority in every directly comparable workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The i3-9100HL is built on Intel’s 14 nm process and uses the Coffee Lake architecture, while the i5-4570TE uses the older 22 nm process and Haswell architecture. This process shrink is a significant factor behind the i3-9100HL’s performance-per-watt advantage, though the datasheet does not quantify power efficiency directly.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i3-9100HL has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4570TE has only 2 physical cores but 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The i3-9100HL’s extra physical cores are the most likely explanation for its consistent 15%+ lead in multicore workloads, as each core operates independently without the sharing overhead of simultaneous multithreading.

Cache configurations also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache differs: the i3-9100HL has 6 MB shared, while the i5-4570TE has only 4 MB shared. This 50% larger L3 cache on the i3-9100HL likely contributes to its single-core advantage as well, since more data can be held closer to the cores.

Memory support is another major divide. The i3-9100HL supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5-4570TE supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not listed. The i3-9100HL also supports ECC memory, while the i5-4570TE does not. PCIe support differs too: the i3-9100HL has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4570TE has Gen 3 but no lane count specified.

Integrated graphics are from different generations. The i3-9100HL includes UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-4570TE includes Intel HD 4600. The i3-9100HL’s die size is smaller at 126 mm², while the i5-4570TE has a larger 177 mm² die and 1,400 million transistors. The i3-9100HL is also a BGA 1440 socket part, while the i5-4570TE uses Socket 1150, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL wins all multi-core Cinebench tests by 15.2% to 15.4%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 3094 versus 2681 for the i5-4570TE.

Q: Does the i5-4570TE win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The i5-4570TE wins zero of the five head-to-head Cinebench tests. Its only advantage is a Geekbench score (1857 multicore, 966 single-core) that has no corresponding i3-9100HL score for comparison.

Q: Why does the i3-9100HL win despite having a lower base clock?

A: The i3-9100HL has 4 physical cores versus 2 on the i5-4570TE, plus a larger 6 MB L3 cache versus 4 MB. The newer 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture likely provides better instructions-per-clock than the 22 nm Haswell design.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two?

A: The i3-9100HL uses a 14 nm process, while the i5-4570TE uses a 22 nm process. The i3-9100HL also has a smaller die at 126 mm² versus 177 mm² for the i5-4570TE.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-9100HL supports ECC memory, but the i5-4570TE does not. The i3-9100HL also supports DDR4, while the i5-4570TE supports DDR3.

Q: Are these processors socket-compatible?

A: No. The i3-9100HL uses Intel BGA 1440, while the i5-4570TE uses Intel Socket 1150. They cannot be swapped between the same motherboard.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The core count is 4 for the i3-9100HL versus 2 for the i5-4570TE, though both have 4 threads. Base clock is 1600 MHz for the i3-9100HL versus 2700 MHz for the i5-4570TE, while boost clock is 2900 MHz versus 3300 MHz respectively. The TDP is 25 W for the i3-9100HL and 35 W for the i5-4570TE.

Process node is 14 nm for the i3-9100HL and 22 nm for the i5-4570TE. The i3-9100HL has 126 mm² die size, while the i5-4570TE has 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. L3 cache is 6 MB on the i3-9100HL versus 4 MB on the i5-4570TE. Memory support is DDR4 for the i3-9100HL and DDR3 for the i5-4570TE, with memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s listed only for the i3-9100HL.

ECC memory support is present on the i3-9100HL but absent on the i5-4570TE. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) on the i3-9100HL, while the i5-4570TE lists only Gen 3 without lane details. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 on the i3-9100HL versus Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4570TE. Socket is BGA 1440 versus Socket 1150, and release dates are 2019-03-31 versus 2013-06-01. The i3-9100HL has a launch MSRP of $225, while the i5-4570TE has no listed MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-9100HL wins in every measured performance category. It is faster in all five Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Its 4 physical cores and 6 MB L3 cache make it the better choice for threaded applications like video rendering, 3D modeling, and compilation workloads. The 15.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore (3094 vs 2681) is substantial and consistent.

The i3-9100HL also wins on power efficiency, with a 25 W TDP versus 35 W for the i5-4570TE. This lower power draw, combined with higher performance, makes it the superior choice for compact or thermally constrained systems. Its DDR4 memory support and ECC capability further enhance its suitability for reliability-focused workloads like small servers or workstations.

The i5-4570TE’s only theoretical advantage is its higher base and boost clocks, which could benefit lightly threaded tasks that are latency-sensitive. However, the single-core Cinebench results do not support this — the i3-9100HL leads by 15.8% in R20 single-core and 15.3% in R23 single-core. The i5-4570TE also has a Geekbench score, but without a comparable i3-9100HL score, this cannot be used to claim any win. In practical terms, the i5-4570TE wins no benchmark in the provided data.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the Intel Core i3-9100HL is the better processor in every directly comparable test. It surpasses the i5-4570TE by roughly 15% across all Cinebench workloads, both single-core and multi-core, while consuming 10 W less power. The i3-9100HL’s 4 physical cores, larger L3 cache, newer 14 nm process, DDR4 support, and ECC capability make it the superior choice for any modern workload.

The i5-4570TE is not without merit — its 2.70 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost clock are higher than the i3-9100HL’s — but the benchmark results show that architectural efficiency trumps raw clock speed. The i5-4570TE scores 270 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 311 for the i3-9100HL, and the margin only widens in newer benchmarks. For anyone choosing between these two, the i3-9100HL is the clear winner, especially given its lower TDP and more modern feature set. The i5-4570TE should only be considered if the older Socket 1150 platform is already in place, but even then, the performance gap is difficult to ignore.