Intel Core i5-3570K vs Intel Core i5-4670R Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570K and Intel Core i5-4670R are both quad-core desktop parts from Intel, but they target very different build scenarios. The 3570K is an unlocked Ivy Bridge chip on a socketed platform, while the 4670R is a soldered Haswell part with a more powerful integrated GPU. Benchmark data shows the 4670R wins every head-to-head test, but the 3570K offers a traditional upgrade path and a higher base clock. The data indicates that the 4670R is the faster chip overall in synthetic workloads, but the 3570K remains relevant for builders who prefer a socketed, overclockable platform.

The Verdict

If you are building a new system today and want the best raw performance from these two, the Intel Core i5-4670R is the clear choice based on benchmark results. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 4.8% to 5.1% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. The 4670R also has a lower TDP of 65 watts compared to the 3570K’s 77 watts, making it more efficient for compact builds.

However, the Intel Core i5-3570K is the pick for a different reason: it uses the Intel Socket 1155 platform, which means you can swap the CPU without replacing the motherboard. The 4670R is soldered to the board (Intel BGA 1364), so it is not a drop-in upgrade. The 3570K also has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. Both chips have unlocked multipliers, but the 3570K’s socketed design makes it the only one you can realistically pair with aftermarket cooling and a Z-series motherboard.

The data shows both CPUs sit at the 35th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1293 for the 3570K and 1286 for the 4670R. The 4670R is 0.6% slower than the 3570K in average score, but in direct head-to-head tests it is consistently faster. Choose the 4670R for performance in a fixed, low-power system; choose the 3570K if you value socket flexibility and overclocking headroom.

Architecture Differences

The 3570K is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the 4670R is Haswell. Both use the same 22 nm process node from Intel, and both integrate 1,400 million transistors. The die sizes differ slightly: the 3570K measures 160 mm², while the 4670R is larger at 177 mm². This larger die likely accommodates the 4670R’s more advanced integrated graphics, which is listed as Intel Iris? Pro 5200 compared to the 3570K’s Intel HD 4000.

Cache configurations are a major difference. The 3570K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4670R has only 4 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The larger L3 cache on the 3570K does not translate into benchmark wins, as the 4670R’s newer architecture and higher IPC compensate in the tested workloads.

Memory support is identical: both support DDR3, and the 3570K specifies dual-channel memory with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The 4670R does not list memory bus or bandwidth details in the data, so no comparison can be made there. The 3570K supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 4670R has no PCIe specification listed. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The 3570K was released in April 2012 and is marked as end-of-life, while the 4670R was released in June 2013 and is still listed as active production. The 3570K carries a launch MSRP of $212; the 4670R has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 4670R dominates every benchmark in the head-to-head data. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 4670R scores 448 against the 3570K’s 425, a 5.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 63 versus 60, a 4.8% lead for the 4670R. These are modest but consistent margins, indicating that the Haswell architecture provides better per-clock performance than Ivy Bridge.

The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20. The 4670R scores 1868 multicore versus 1772 for the 3570K, again a 5.1% difference. In single-core R20, the 4670R posts 263 against 250, a 4.9% lead. The results are nearly identical in Cinebench R23: the 4670R hits 4448 multicore and 627 single-core, while the 3570K manages 4221 and 596 respectively. The deltas are 5.1% for multicore and 4.9% for single-core.

It is notably the 3570K has a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz) than the 4670R (3.70 GHz), yet it still loses every test. This means the 4670R’s architectural efficiency overcomes the 100 MHz clock deficit. The 4670R also wins despite having 2 MB less L3 cache, reinforcing the idea that Haswell’s IPC gains are the deciding factor in these synthetic workloads.

The 3570K does have a separate Geekbench result in its own benchmark list, scoring 2245 multicore and 776 single-core, but the 4670R has no Geekbench data for comparison. The head-to-head table only includes Cinebench tests, so those six results are the basis for the 6-0 win count for the 4670R.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3570K | Intel Core i5-4670R |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 77 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Haswell |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 177 mm² |

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

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

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

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

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

| Launch MSRP | $212 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR0PM | Not listed |

The 3570K runs at higher clocks across the board, but it also consumes more power. The 4670R trades 400 MHz of base clock and 100 MHz of boost clock for a 12-watt TDP reduction. The 3570K is the only one with a socketed interface, while the 4670R is BGA-soldered. The 4670R has a newer integrated GPU, and its die is 17 mm² larger despite having less L3 cache. Both chips have 4 cores, 4 threads, and unlocked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670R wins all multicore tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 4448 versus 4221 for the 3570K, a 5.1% advantage. The same 5.1% margin appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests.

Q: Does the 3570K’s higher clock speed make it better for single-core tasks?

A: No. Despite having a 3.80 GHz boost clock versus 3.70 GHz on the 4670R, the 3570K loses single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 4670R scores 627 against 596, a 4.9% lead.

Q: Can I upgrade either CPU without changing the motherboard?

A: Only the 3570K. It uses Intel Socket 1155, which allows CPU replacement. The 4670R uses Intel BGA 1364, a soldered design that ties the CPU to the board.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The 4670R lists Intel Iris? Pro 5200, while the 3570K has Intel HD 4000. The 4670R’s larger die size of 177 mm² compared to 160 mm² is consistent with a more capable integrated GPU.

Q: Do both chips support overclocking?

A: Yes, both have unlocked multipliers. However, the 3570K’s socketed design makes it more practical for overclocking, as you can pair it with a compatible motherboard and cooler.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The 4670R has a TDP of 65 watts, while the 3570K is rated at 77 watts. That is a 12-watt difference in favor of the 4670R.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4670R wins in every measured benchmark category. It is the faster chip for Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. If your workload is heavily dependent on these render tests, the 4670R is the better performer. It also consumes less power, making it suitable for a compact, low-noise build where thermal headroom is limited. The integrated Iris? Pro 5200 graphics are a clear upgrade over the HD 4000, so if you plan to run without a discrete GPU, the 4670R is the stronger choice. The 4670R’s active production status also means it may be easier to source new.

The Intel Core i5-3570K wins on platform flexibility. Its Socket 1155 interface means you can upgrade the CPU independently of the motherboard, and its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz gives it a theoretical edge in lightly threaded tasks that do not boost. The 3570K also has a larger 6 MB L3 cache, which may help in cache-sensitive applications, though the benchmark data does not show a win there. It is the only one of the two with a listed launch MSRP of $212, and its end-of-life status means it may be available used at lower prices. The Geekbench scores for the 3570K (2245 multicore, 776 single-core) provide additional data points for comparison, though the 4670R has no equivalent numbers.

In practical terms, the 4670R is a better chip for a fixed, performance-oriented build, while the 3570K is the better choice for a builder who values upgradeability and overclocking on a socketed platform. The 4670R’s benchmark sweep is decisive, but the 3570K’s socket advantage is a real-world consideration that numbers alone do not capture.