CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570K and Intel Core i5-3570 are nearly identical twins, sharing the same Ivy Bridge architecture, 22 nm process, and core configuration. The benchmark data shows that the 3570K wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head tests, with the non-K variant eking out a single victory in Geekbench multicore. The K model’s advantage is small, typically under 1%, but consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The real differentiator is the unlocked multiplier on the 3570K, which allows overclocking; the locked 3570 cannot adjust its multiplier. For a builder choosing between these two on the used market, the 3570K is the pick if you have a Z-series motherboard and plan to overclock. The 3570 is the pick if you want the same baseline performance at a lower launch MSRP and don’t care about tuning. The data shows both sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1293 for the K and 1286 for the non-K, a difference of 0.5%. Neither chip is a modern powerhouse, but for legacy Socket 1155 builds, the K version offers headroom that the locked chip simply cannot match.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i5-3570K if you are building on a motherboard that supports overclocking. The data shows it leads in 7 of 8 benchmarks, with the largest margin being a 1.7% win in Cinebench R15 single-core (60 vs 59). Its unlocked multiplier is the defining feature, the part number SR0PM confirms this, and it is the only meaningful spec difference beyond integrated graphics. The K model also carries a higher launch MSRP of $212, but the benchmark scores justify a small premium for the overclocking headroom.

Choose the Intel Core i5-3570 if you want the same stock performance and will not overclock. It loses every Cinebench test by margins of 0.8% to 1.7%, but it actually wins Geekbench multicore (2251 vs 2245, a 0.3% edge). Its launch MSRP was $194, which is $18 less than the K. The locked multiplier (part number SR0T7) means no overclocking, but at identical base and boost clocks of 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz, the stock experience is essentially the same. The 3570 also uses the Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics instead of the HD 4000 on the K, so if you need better iGPU performance, the K wins there too.

The verdict is clear: the 3570K is the superior part for anyone who values flexibility, and the 3570 is only for those who strictly avoid overclocking and want to save on the initial purchase. Both are end-of-life products, so the data reflects a mature platform that has been fully characterized.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on the same Ivy Bridge architecture, codenamed Ivy Bridge, and manufactured on Intel’s 22 nm process. The foundry is Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The critical architectural difference is the multiplier. The 3570K has an unlocked multiplier, meaning the CPU clock can be raised freely. The 3570 has a locked multiplier, so its clock speed cannot exceed the stock 3.80 GHz boost. This is a feature-level difference, not a silicon-level one, the dies are functionally the same, but the K variant is binned and enabled for overclocking. The integrated graphics also differ: the 3570K has Intel HD 4000, while the 3570 has Intel HD 2500. This is the second major spec split. Both share the same socket (Intel Socket 1155), TDP of 77 W, and are classified as Desktop parts. The 3570K was released on 2012-04-28, about a month before the 3570 on 2012-05-31.

FAQ

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

A: The 3570K scores 4221, which is 0.8% ahead of the 3570’s 4187. The 3570K wins this test.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the 3570 beats the 3570K?

A: Yes, only one: Geekbench multicore. The 3570 scores 2251 versus the 3570K’s 2245, a 0.3% margin in favor of the non-K chip.

Q: Can I overclock the 3570?

A: No. The 3570 has a locked multiplier (part number SR0T7). The 3570K (SR0PM) has an unlocked multiplier, which allows overclocking.

Q: Are the integrated graphics the same?

A: No. The 3570K comes with Intel HD 4000, while the 3570 has Intel HD 2500. The K model’s iGPU is a step up.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The 3570K has an average score of 1293, and the 3570 has an average of 1286. That is a 0.5% gap in favor of the K, placing both at the 35th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do they have the same memory support?

A: Yes. Both support DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two CPUs, per the data:

• Part Number: 3570K is SR0PM; 3570 is SR0T7.
• Integrated Graphics: 3570K has Intel HD 4000; 3570 has Intel HD 2500.
• Multiplier Unlocked: 3570K is true; 3570 is false.
• Release Date: 3570K released 2012-04-28; 3570 released 2012-05-31.
• Launch MSRP: 3570K is $212; 3570 is $194.
• Head-to-Head Wins: 3570K wins 7 tests; 3570 wins 1 test.
• Average Benchmark Score: 3570K is 1293; 3570 is 1286.

All other specs are identical: 4 cores, 4 threads, 3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost, 77 W TDP, Socket 1155, Ivy Bridge, 22 nm, 1,400 million transistors, 160 mm² die, 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, 6 MB L3, DDR3, dual-channel, 25.6 GB/s, no ECC, PCIe Gen 3 16 lanes, Desktop segment, end-of-life production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 3570K dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 425 versus 421, a 1% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 1.7% advantage (60 vs 59), which is the largest margin in any benchmark. Moving to R20, the K wins multicore with 1772 versus 1758 (0.8% lead) and single-core with 250 versus 248 (0.8% lead). R23 follows the same pattern: multicore 4221 vs 4187 (0.8%) and single-core 596 vs 591 (0.8%). These are small but consistent wins across three generations of the Cinebench workload.

Geekbench tells a slightly different story. In the single-core test, the 3570K wins with 776 versus 770, a 0.8% margin. But in the multicore test, the 3570 flips the result, scoring 2251 versus 2245, a 0.3% advantage for the non-K chip. This is the only test where the locked part comes out ahead. The overall scoreboard is 7 wins for the 3570K and 1 for the 3570. The average benchmark scores reflect this: 1293 for the K versus 1286 for the non-K, a 0.5% aggregate difference.

The nearest rival data contextualizes these numbers. The 3570K’s closest competitors are the Intel Core i7-3630QM (avg score 1289, delta 0.3%), the Intel Core i7-3610QE (1297, delta -0.3%), the AMD Opteron 6272 (1288, delta 0.4%), and the Intel Core i5-4670R (1286, delta 0.5%). The 3570’s nearest rivals include the same chips, but with the 4670R at a 0% delta, the Opteron at -0.1%, the i7-3630QM at -0.3%, and the 3570K at -0.6%. Both CPUs sit in the same performance band, trading fractions of a percent with quad-core and server parts from that era.

Where Each One Wins

The 3570K wins in every Cinebench test, which means it is the better choice for rendering workloads and any application that scales with sustained multi-threaded performance. The margins are small (0.8% to 1.7%), but the pattern is uniform across R15, R20, and R23. The K also wins Geekbench single-core (776 vs 770), so it has a slight edge in lightly threaded tasks. The unlocked multiplier is the decisive advantage for overclocking, with a suitable motherboard and cooler, the 3570K can be pushed well beyond its stock 3.80 GHz boost, while the 3570 is hard-stuck at that clock. If you are building a retro gaming rig or a low-cost workstation on Socket 1155, the K model gives you room to grow.

The 3570 wins only one test: Geekbench multicore (2251 vs 2245). That 0.3% margin is within run-to-run variance, so it is not a meaningful victory in practice. The non-K chip’s real advantage is the $18 lower launch MSRP ($194 vs $212) and the fact that it does not tempt you into overclocking, which means you can use a cheaper motherboard and a stock cooler. For a locked, no-fuss build where you never touch BIOS settings, the 3570 delivers 99.2% of the K’s average performance (1286 vs 1293) at a lower initial cost. However, the 3570’s Intel HD 2500 graphics are inferior to the 3570K’s HD 4000, so if you plan to use the integrated GPU even temporarily, the K is the better buy. In summary, the 3570K is the winner for enthusiasts and overclockers; the 3570 is for strict stock builds where the lower price matters more than the small performance lead and overclocking headroom.