Intel Core i5-3570K vs Intel Core i5-4570R Comparison

Both processors are quad-core desktop parts from Intel, but the recorded data shows two very different performance personalities. The Intel Core i5-4570R (Haswell, Crystal Well) and the Intel Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge) share the same core and thread count, yet their benchmark results are not uniform. The 3570K dominates the Cinebench suite, while the 4570R takes a decisive lead in Geekbench. This split outcome requires a closer look at the underlying architecture and what each test measures.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are consistently in favor of the Intel Core i5-3570K. Across every version of the Cinebench test, the older Ivy Bridge part holds a lead of roughly 8 to 10 percent. In the R15 multicore test, the 3570K scores 425 against the 4570R's 390, a delta of -8.2 percent. The single-core R15 test shows a larger gap: 60 points versus 54, which translates to a 10 percent advantage for the 3570K. This pattern repeats in R20, where the 3570K scores 1772 multicore and 250 single-core, compared to 1629 and 229 for the 4570R. The deltas here are -8.1 percent and -8.4 percent respectively.

The R23 results continue the trend. The 3570K posts a multicore score of 4221 and a single-core score of 596. The 4570R trails with 3879 and 547, yielding deltas of -8.1 percent and -8.2 percent. Across all six Cinebench sub-tests, the 3570K wins every time. The margin is consistent, suggesting a fundamental clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The 3570K operates at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the 4570R runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The higher frequencies explain the uniform Cinebench lead.

The Geekbench tests tell a different story. Here, the 4570R wins decisively. In Geekbench multicore, the 4570R scores 2872 against the 3570K's 2245, a delta of 27.9 percent. The single-core Geekbench test shows a 21.5 percent advantage for the 4570R, with scores of 943 and 776. This is a significant reversal. The 4570R loses the frequency battle by a wide margin, yet it wins Geekbench by an even wider margin in percentage terms. The data indicates that Geekbench is far more sensitive to architectural efficiency than raw clock speed, favoring the newer Haswell design. The 4570R wins 2 of the 8 head-to-head tests, while the 3570K wins 6, but the Geekbench victories are so large that they offset the consistent Cinebench losses in terms of overall capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The 4570R uses the Haswell architecture with the codename Crystal Well, while the 3570K is built on Ivy Bridge. Both are manufactured on a 22 nm process node at Intel, but the transistor counts and die sizes differ. The 4570R packs 1,700 million transistors on a 260 mm² die. The 3570K has 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 160 mm² die. The larger die and higher transistor count for the 4570R indicate a more complex design, likely due to the integrated graphics and additional logic.

Cache configurations also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache, however, is different. The 4570R has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 3570K has 6 MB. This is a notable difference, as the 3570K has 50 percent more last-level cache. Despite this, the 4570R still manages to win Geekbench, suggesting that the Haswell memory controller and execution engine are more efficient. The memory support is identical on paper: both use DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. PCIe support is also the same, with Gen 3 and 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The 4570R includes Intel Iris Pro 5200, which is a high-end iGPU from the Haswell generation. The 3570K uses Intel HD 4000. The Iris Pro 5200 is a significantly more capable graphics solution, but the benchmark data provided does not include graphics tests. The socket types are incompatible: the 4570R uses Intel BGA 1364 (soldered), while the 3570K uses Intel Socket 1155 (LGA). This means they are not drop-in replacements for each other. The 3570K has an unlocked multiplier, while the 4570R does not, making the 3570K the only one of the two that can be overclocked by adjusting the multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570K has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Core i5-4570R has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Why does the 3570K win all Cinebench tests if the 4570R is a newer architecture?

A: The recorded data shows the 3570K holds a consistent 8.1 to 10 percent lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This is likely due to its substantially higher clock speeds, which benefit the Cinebench workload more than the architectural improvements of the Haswell design.

Q: How does the Geekbench performance compare?

A: The 4570R wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 2872 versus 2245 for the 3570K, a 27.9 percent advantage. In single-core Geekbench, the 4570R scores 943 against 776, a 21.5 percent lead.

Q: Do the two processors use the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The 4570R uses Intel BGA 1364, a soldered package, while the 3570K uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The 3570K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4570R has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on either processor?

A: Yes, the 3570K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The 4570R does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The specification table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4570R | Intel Core i5-3570K |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 77 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1364 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |

| Codename | Crystal Well | Ivy Bridge |

| Transistors | 1,700 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 260 mm² | 160 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris Pro 5200 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2012-04-28 |

| Launch MSRP | None | $212 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR18P | SR0PM |

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split. The Intel Core i5-3570K is the superior processor for Cinebench-style rendering workloads. It wins all six Cinebench tests by margins between 8.1 and 10 percent, driven by its higher base and boost clocks. It also offers an unlocked multiplier, making it the only option here for users who plan to overclock. The 6 MB of L3 cache is another advantage for cache-sensitive tasks. For these reasons, the 3570K is the better choice for users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness and traditional CPU-bound rendering performance, provided they have a Socket 1155 motherboard.

The Intel Core i5-4570R wins Geekbench by a substantial margin, with a 27.9 percent lead in multicore and a 21.5 percent lead in single-core. This indicates a fundamentally more efficient core design in the Haswell architecture, despite lower clock speeds. The 4570R also features the Intel Iris Pro 5200 integrated graphics, which is a much stronger iGPU solution than the HD 4000 found on the 3570K. For users who rely on Geekbench-style workloads, which may include more complex instruction sets or memory latency patterns, the 4570R is the better performer. Its lower TDP of 65 W versus 77 W also makes it more thermally efficient.

The choice depends on the workload. The 3570K is the pick for maximum clock speed and overclocking potential. The 4570R is the pick for architectural efficiency and superior integrated graphics. Both processors sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 1318 for the 4570R and 1293 for the 3570K. The 4570R edges out its nearest rival, the Intel Celeron G6900E, by -0.2 percent, while the 3570K sits 0.3 percent above the Intel Core i7-3630QM. In a direct comparison, the 3570K is the more consistent performer across the Cinebench suite, but the 4570R's Geekbench dominance cannot be ignored.