Intel Core i5-2500K vs Intel Core i5-4570R Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2500K and Intel Core i5-4570R are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors from Intel, but they represent distinct architectural eras and design philosophies. The 2500K is an unlocked Sandy Bridge part from 2011, while the 4570R is a locked Haswell (Crystal Well) part from 2013. Benchmark data shows the 4570R holds a decisive performance lead across every tested workload, with the 2500K offering no benchmark victories. The 2500K’s average benchmark score is 1329, while the 4570R’s is 1318, placing both in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, yet the individual test results tell a more nuanced story of generational efficiency gains.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570R wins decisively, scoring 3879 versus the 2500K’s 3523. This represents a 9.2% advantage for the 4570R in the multicore test.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The 4570R is significantly faster, posting a score of 943 compared to the 2500K’s 805. The delta is 14.6% in favor of the Haswell part.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The 2500K has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1329, while the 4570R scores 1318. This places both CPUs at the 35th percentile of all processors, with the 2500K’s nearest rival being the Intel Core i5-4460S (deltaPct -0.1%) and the 4570R’s nearest rival being the Intel Celeron G6900E (deltaPct -0.2%).

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-2500K has an unlocked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked: true), while the Intel Core i5-4570R is locked (multiplierUnlocked: false).

Q: Which processor features a larger shared L3 cache?

A: The 2500K has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the 4570R has a smaller 4 MB shared L3 cache. This is a notable difference despite the 4570R’s superior benchmark results.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each CPU?

A: The 2500K has a TDP of 95 watts, while the 4570R is rated at a lower 65 watts, indicating the latter is more power-efficient per the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different manufacturing nodes and microarchitectures. The 2500K uses Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture fabricated on a 32 nm process, while the 4570R uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. This node shrink is reflected in the transistor counts: the 2500K contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, whereas the 4570R packs 1,700 million transistors onto a larger 260 mm² die. The 4570R’s higher transistor density is a key contributor to its performance advantage.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story, however. The 2500K has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The 4570R operates at a lower 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite this clock deficit, the newer architecture’s efficiency allows it to outperform the older chip in all benchmarks. The 4570R also features a different socket (Intel BGA 1364) compared to the 2500K’s Intel Socket 1155, reflecting its embedded-oriented design.

The integrated graphics differ substantially. The 2500K includes Intel HD 3000, while the 4570R features the more capable Intel Iris Pro 5200. This is a major architectural distinction, as the Iris Pro 5200 is a premium integrated solution. The memory controllers are similar in bandwidth (both 25.6 GB/s, dual-channel DDR3), but the PCIe support differs: the 2500K offers Gen 2 with 16 lanes, while the 4570R provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This means the 4570R offers higher potential bandwidth for discrete GPUs, though the CPU itself does not benefit from this in the tested benchmarks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the 4570R wins all seven benchmark comparisons. The largest deltas come in Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, the 4570R scores 2872 against the 2500K’s 2434, a 15.3% difference. The single-core Geekbench test shows a similar gap, with the 4570R at 943 and the 2500K at 805, a 14.6% advantage. These results indicate the Haswell architecture delivers substantially better IPC (instructions per clock) despite the lower clock speeds.

In Cinebench tests, the margins are consistent but slightly smaller. Cinebench R15 multicore shows the 4570R at 390 versus 354 for the 2500K, a 9.2% lead. The Cinebench R20 multicore test repeats this exact 9.2% delta, with scores of 1629 and 1479 respectively. Cinebench R23 multicore also shows a 9.2% gap, with the 4570R scoring 3879 and the 2500K scoring 3523. The single-core Cinebench tests follow the same pattern: R20 single-core shows 229 versus 208 (9.2% delta), and R23 single-core shows 547 versus 497 (9.1% delta).

The consistency of the ~9.2% delta across Cinebench workloads suggests a fixed performance advantage that scales uniformly with core count and clock speed. The larger 14-15% deltas in Geekbench indicate that this benchmark suite is more sensitive to the architectural improvements in the 4570R, possibly due to better branch prediction, memory access patterns, or other Haswell enhancements.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several key differences beyond the obvious benchmark performance. The 2500K has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the 4570R runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The 2500K’s TDP is 95 watts, compared to the 4570R’s more modest 65 watts. The process node differs: 32 nm for the 2500K versus 22 nm for the 4570R.

Cache configurations diverge as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 2500K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4570R has only 4 MB. The transistor counts are 1,160 million for the 2500K and 1,700 million for the 4570R, with die sizes of 216 mm² and 260 mm² respectively.

The 2500K uses the Intel Socket 1155 and supports PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, while the 4570R uses Intel BGA 1364 and supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 3000 on the 2500K versus Intel Iris Pro 5200 on the 4570R. The 2500K has an unlocked multiplier, while the 4570R is locked. The 2500K was released earlier (2011-01-08) with a launch MSRP of $216, whereas the 4570R has no recorded launch MSRP and was released later (2013-06-01). Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows the Intel Core i5-4570R wins in every measured workload, making it the clear choice for performance. Its advantages are most pronounced in Geekbench tests, where it leads by 14.6% to 15.3%. This suggests the 4570R is better suited for applications that stress single-threaded responsiveness and memory-sensitive workloads, as measured by Geekbench’s mixed workload suite.

The 4570R also excels in all Cinebench rendering tests, maintaining a consistent 9.1% to 9.2% lead across R15, R20, and R23 versions, for both single-core and multicore runs. This makes it the superior processor for 3D rendering tasks such as those found in Cinebench, where the newer architecture’s efficiency overcomes its lower clock speeds. The 4570R also offers a more advanced integrated GPU (Iris Pro 5200 versus HD 3000), making it more capable for systems without a discrete graphics card.

The Intel Core i5-2500K has no benchmark wins, but it does offer advantages in other areas that are not measured by performance scores. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.30/3.70 GHz versus 2.70/3.20 GHz) could be leveraged by overclocking, as the unlocked multiplier allows for manual clock adjustments. The 2500K also has a larger 6 MB L3 cache, which could benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not reflect this. Its lower transistor count (1,160 million versus 1,700 million) and smaller die (216 mm² versus 260 mm²) suggest a simpler design, but the 95-watt TDP is higher than the 4570R’s 65-watt rating.

For a user prioritizing raw benchmark performance, the 4570R is the winner. For a user who values overclocking headroom, the 2500K’s unlocked multiplier is a distinct feature. However, the data shows that even at stock settings, the 4570R’s architectural advances render the 2500K’s clock speed advantage irrelevant in all tested scenarios. The 4570R’s 15.3% multicore Geekbench lead and 9.2% Cinebench R23 lead make it the stronger processor for virtually all computing tasks measured.