Intel Core i5-3550S vs Intel Core i5-4570T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3550S and the Intel Core i5-4570T represent two distinct approaches to desktop processing from successive Intel generations. The i5-3550S is a quad-core Ivy Bridge part, while the i5-4570T is a dual-core Haswell part with a drastically lower 35W TDP. Benchmark results show a clear split: the 3550S dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the 4570T takes a decisive lead in Geekbench. This creates a nuanced comparison where the "better" processor depends entirely on the workload, despite both landing at the 31st percentile across all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550S demonstrates its strength in heavily threaded rendering workloads. Across all four Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core variants), the 3550S emerges victorious, winning 5 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks. This is a direct consequence of its physical core advantage: the 3550S offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while the 4570T is limited to 2 cores and 4 threads. The data shows that in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 3550S scores 3808 against the 4570T’s 2732, a substantial 39.4% lead. Even in single-core Cinebench R23, where core count matters less, the 3550S maintains a 39.5% advantage with a score of 537 versus 385. For users running CPU-bound rendering, simulation, or video encoding tasks, the 3550S is the clear choice based on this data.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-4570T wins decisively in Geekbench tests. It outscores the 3550S by 14.9% in Geekbench multi-core (2016 vs. 1716) and by a massive 40.2% in Geekbench single-core (1042 vs. 623). These wins suggest that the 4570T’s newer Haswell architecture, despite having fewer physical cores, executes instructions more efficiently in certain integer and floating-point workloads. The 4570T’s advantage here points to its suitability for everyday desktop tasks, general productivity, and applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance. If a use case involves rapid-fire single-threaded operations, the data indicates the 4570T is the superior option.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two CPUs is significant. The i5-3550S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, using a 22 nm process node, while the i5-4570T uses the Haswell architecture, also on a 22 nm process. Both chips are manufactured by Intel and pack the same transistor count of 1,400 million. However, the die size differs: the 3550S measures 160 mm², while the 4570T is larger at 177 mm², despite having fewer cores. This suggests the Haswell design incorporates more complex execution resources.

The most obvious difference is core count: the 3550S has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, whereas the 4570T has 2 physical cores with 4 threads (via Hyper-Threading). Cache configurations also differ. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the 3550S has a larger 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the 4570T has only 4 MB. This larger cache on the 3550S likely contributes to its strong Cinebench performance, where data reuse is common.

Memory support is identical on paper: both use DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, and neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe configuration differs, with the 3550S supporting Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 4570T supports Gen 3 without a specified lane count. Integrated graphics also differ: the 3550S packs Intel HD 2500, while the 4570T features the more capable Intel HD 4600. The sockets are incompatible: the 3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the 4570T uses Intel Socket 1150. Finally, the thermal design power is a stark contrast: the 3550S has a 65W TDP, while the 4570T sips power at 35W. The release dates confirm the generation gap, with the 3550S launching in late April 2012 and the 4570T arriving in early June 2013.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite reveals a consistent pattern of dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 3550S scores 383 against the 4570T’s 275, a 39.3% lead. This gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the 3550S hits 1599 and the 4570T trails at 1147, yielding a 39.4% delta. The single-core results are even more lopsided. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the 3550S scores 225 versus the 4570T’s 161, a 39.8% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar story: the 3550S posts 537, while the 4570T manages 385, a 39.5% difference. Across all Cinebench iterations, the 3550S maintains a remarkably consistent advantage of roughly 39-40%.

The Geekbench results invert the hierarchy entirely. In Geekbench single-core, the 4570T scores 1042, which is 40.2% higher than the 3550S’s 623. This is the largest single-core delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it indicates a fundamental efficiency advantage for the Haswell core design. In Geekbench multi-core, the 4570T scores 2016 versus the 3550S’s 1716, a 14.9% lead. This is particularly interesting because the 4570T achieves this with only half the physical cores, relying on Hyper-Threading and a superior IPC (instructions per clock) to overcome the 3550S’s raw core count advantage. The data suggests that Geekbench’s workload mix rewards the newer microarchitecture, while Cinebench rewards the older chip’s additional physical cores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550S is significantly faster, scoring 3808 compared to the i5-4570T’s 2732. This represents a 39.4% performance advantage for the quad-core Ivy Bridge part.

Q: Why does the i5-4570T win in Geekbench despite having fewer cores?

A: The i5-4570T’s Haswell architecture delivers higher instructions per clock than the older Ivy Bridge design. In Geekbench single-core, the 4570T scores 1042 versus the 3550S’s 623, a 40.2% advantage. This efficiency allows the 2-core/4-thread chip to outperform the 4-core chip in Geekbench multi-core as well, with scores of 2016 and 1716, respectively.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each CPU?

A: The i5-3550S has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i5-4570T has 2 cores and 4 threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading to process four threads simultaneously.

Q: How do their power consumption figures compare?

A: The i5-4570T has a TDP of 35W, while the i5-3550S has a TDP of 65W. The 4570T is designed for significantly lower power draw, making it more suitable for compact or energy-efficient systems.

Q: Do these processors use the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The i5-3550S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4570T uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable across the same motherboard.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-3550S has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the i5-4570T has a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The larger cache on the 3550S likely aids its performance in cache-sensitive workloads like Cinebench.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: choose the Intel Core i5-3550S for multi-threaded rendering and compute-heavy tasks. Its four physical cores provide a commanding 39.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and similar margins in all other Cinebench tests. For users whose primary applications are video rendering, 3D modeling, or batch processing, the 3550S is the unequivocal choice, despite its higher 65W TDP and older Ivy Bridge architecture.

Choose the Intel Core i5-4570T for general-purpose desktop use and single-threaded responsiveness. Its 40.2% lead in Geekbench single-core and 14.9% lead in Geekbench multi-core indicate superior real-world performance in everyday applications, web browsing, and office productivity. The 4570T also offers the benefit of a much lower 35W TDP, which can enable quieter, cooler, and more power-efficient system builds. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics on the 4570T also represent a generational upgrade over the HD 2500 in the 3550S, though the benchmark data does not test iGPU performance. Ultimately, the decision hinges on whether raw multi-core compute or architectural efficiency and power economy are the priority. The 3550S wins the render test, while the 4570T wins the efficiency and single-thread test.