CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-6400 are two locked quad-core desktop processors from different eras, and their benchmark results tell a surprisingly split story. The older Ivy Bridge chip dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the newer Skylake part takes a clear lead in Geekbench. This is not a straightforward generational upgrade; it is a clash between raw clock speed and architectural efficiency, and the data shows each processor has a distinct area of strength.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the complete reversal of fortunes between the two benchmark suites. The Intel Core i5-3570 wins six out of eight head-to-head comparisons, but the two it loses are by substantial margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3570 scores 421 against the i5-6400’s 364, a 15.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells the same story, with the i5-3570 at 59 points versus 51 points, again a 15.7% lead. This consistency extends through the newer Cinebench versions: in R20 multi-core, the i5-3570 posts 1758 against 1517 (15.9% higher), and in R20 single-core it leads 248 to 214, also by 15.9%. The R23 results mirror this exactly, with the i5-3570 scoring 4187 versus 3614 in multi-core and 591 versus 510 in single-core, maintaining that same 15.9% delta.

The Geekbench results flip the script completely. Here, the i5-6400 is the clear winner, and the margins are much larger than the Cinebench deltas. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-6400 scores 3134 against the i5-3570’s 2251, a 28.2% advantage. The single-core Geekbench test shows a 26.5% lead for the i5-6400, with a score of 1048 versus 770. These are not marginal differences; they represent a fundamental divergence in how the two architectures handle the workloads in each benchmark. The i5-3570’s higher clock speeds give it the edge in Cinebench’s rendering tasks, while the i5-6400’s newer architecture and superior memory bandwidth appear to benefit its Geekbench performance.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the i5-6400 edges out the i5-3570, with an average score of 1307 versus 1286, a difference of about 1.6%. Both processors sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically in the same performance tier overall. The nearest rivals for the i5-3570 include the Intel Core i5-4670R at an identical 1286 average score, and the AMD Opteron 6272 at 1288, a 0.1% difference. The i5-6400’s closest competitors include the AMD Opteron 6328 at 1304 (0.2% below) and the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U at 1311 (0.3% above). These averages suggest that while the i5-6400 has a slight overall edge, it is not a dominant victory, and the specific workload matters more than the aggregate number.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap between these two chips is significant. The i5-3570 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process node, while the i5-6400 uses Skylake, fabricated on a 14 nm node. This process shrink is a major differentiator, allowing the newer chip to operate with a lower thermal design power (TDP) of 65 watts compared to the i5-3570’s 77 watts. The i5-3570 has a die size of 160 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors, while the i5-6400’s die is slightly larger at 177 mm², with its transistor count not specified in the data.

Both processors feature four cores and four threads, with matching cache configurations: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory support is where another key difference emerges. The i5-3570 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a peak bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i5-6400 supports DDR4 memory, also on a dual-channel bus, but with a higher bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. This 33% increase in theoretical memory bandwidth is likely a contributing factor to the i5-6400’s Geekbench advantage.

Other differences include the integrated graphics, with the i5-3570 featuring Intel HD 2500 and the i5-6400 featuring HD Graphics 530. The socket changes from Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3570 to Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-6400, meaning they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard. Both chips have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking. The i5-3570 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i5-6400 runs at a lower 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This 700 MHz base clock advantage for the older chip is substantial and explains much of its Cinebench dominance.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3570 is faster, scoring 4187 compared to the i5-6400’s 3614, a 15.9% advantage.

Q: Does the newer i5-6400 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i5-6400 wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 3134 in multi-core versus 2251 for the i5-3570 (28.2% higher) and 1048 in single-core versus 770 (26.5% higher).

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-6400 supports DDR4 memory with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-3570 supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. Both use a dual-channel bus.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i5-3570 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-6400 uses Intel Socket 1151, so they require different motherboards.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache layouts: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3.

Q: Which chip has a lower TDP?

A: The i5-6400 has a lower TDP of 65 watts, compared to the i5-3570’s 77 watts, despite the i5-3570 having higher clock speeds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The base clock is 3.40 GHz for the i5-3570 versus 2.70 GHz for the i5-6400, and the boost clock is 3.80 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. The TDP is 77 watts for the i5-3570 and 65 watts for the i5-6400. The socket is Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3570 and Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-6400. The architecture and process node differ, with Ivy Bridge on 22 nm versus Skylake on 14 nm. The die size is 160 mm² for the i5-3570 and 177 mm² for the i5-6400, and the transistor count is 1,400 million for the i5-3570 while it is not specified for the i5-6400. Memory support is DDR3 for the i5-3570 and DDR4 for the i5-6400, with corresponding bandwidths of 25.6 GB/s and 34.1 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2500 for the i5-3570 and HD Graphics 530 for the i5-6400. The release dates are May 2012 for the i5-3570 and July 2015 for the i5-6400. Both have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. The Intel Core i5-3570 is the better choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, winning all six Cinebench tests by a consistent 15.7% to 15.9% margin. Its higher clock speeds are the obvious driver of this performance. The Intel Core i5-6400, however, is the better choice for Geekbench-style workloads, winning both tests by 26.5% to 28.2% margins. The newer architecture and higher memory bandwidth likely contribute to this result. For a user who prioritizes raw multi-threaded rendering performance in applications similar to Cinebench, the i5-3570 is the stronger option despite being older. For a user whose workloads resemble Geekbench’s mixed integer and floating-point tests, the i5-6400 is clearly superior. The average benchmark scores slightly favor the i5-6400 (1307 versus 1286), but this is a small difference, and both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile overall. Neither chip is a universal winner, and the choice should be dictated by the specific applications you run.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3570 wins in all Cinebench scenarios, including R15, R20, and R23, in both multi-core and single-core tests. This indicates a strong performance in CPU rendering tasks, where sustained clock speed is critical. The i5-3570’s 3.40 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock give it a significant advantage in these workloads.

The Intel Core i5-6400 wins in both Geekbench tests, multi-core and single-core. Its 28.2% lead in multi-core Geekbench is the largest margin of any head-to-head comparison, suggesting that its architectural efficiency and higher memory bandwidth are particularly beneficial for the diverse set of tasks Geekbench evaluates. The i5-6400 also wins on power efficiency, with a 65-watt TDP versus the i5-3570’s 77 watts, and it offers newer memory support with DDR4.

In practical terms, if you are building a system for video rendering or 3D modeling that uses Cinebench-like algorithms, the i5-3570 is the data-backed pick. If you are building a general-purpose system with a mix of productivity and everyday tasks, the i5-6400’s Geekbench performance and lower power draw make it the more balanced option. The two chips are close in overall standing, both at the 35th percentile, so the decision comes down to workload-specific strengths rather than an overall winner.