Intel Core i5-3570K vs Intel Core i7-3615QM Comparison

# Intel Core i5-3570K vs Intel Core i7-3615QM

The Intel Core i5-3570K and Intel Core i7-3615QM represent two distinct interpretations of the Ivy Bridge architecture. The i5-3570K is a desktop-focused part with a higher base clock and an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-3615QM is a mobile processor tuned for efficiency within a constrained thermal envelope. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear split: the desktop chip wins every single-core test, while the mobile i7 dominates every multi-core workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive single-core result is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-3570K scores 776 against the i7-3615QM's 554. That is a 40.1% advantage, the largest margin in any test. Cinebench R15 single-core tells a similar story: 60 versus 62, a 3.2% lead for the desktop part. The i5 also holds a 3.8% edge in Cinebench R20 single-core, scoring 250 versus 260.

Multi-core testing flips the script decisively. The i7-3615QM beats the i5-3570K by 3.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (442 vs. 425) and by 4% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1845 versus 1772). The margin widens in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7 scores 4393 versus 4221, a 3.9% lead. Geekbench multi-core shows the largest multi-core gap: 2245 for the i7 versus 1907 for the i5, a 17.7% difference.

Looking at the head-to-head table, the i7-3615QM wins six out of eight tests. Its wins are exclusively in multi-threaded workloads. The i5-3570K takes the two single-core tests. Across all eight recorded benchmarks, the i7 averages a 4.6% higher composite score, but the i5 has a 0.3% higher average in single-core. The data suggests the i7 is the better multi-tasking part, while the i5 has a noticeable edge in lightly-threaded tasks.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the data dictates a clear split. The Intel Core i7-3615QM is the choice for multi-core rendering, video encoding, and any workload that scales with threads. It wins every multi-core benchmark in the database, with margins from 3.8% to 17.7%. The Intel Core i5-3570K is the better part for single-threaded workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R15 single-core and R20 single-core by 3.2% and 3.8% respectively, and by 40.1% in Geekbench single-core. The i5 also sits in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, higher than the i7's 34th percentile, meaning it outperforms a larger fraction of the database in single-thread tasks.

However, the i7-3615QM is not far behind in any single-core test. The margins there are 3.2%, 3.8%, 3.9%, and 40.1%. In multi-core, the i5's deficits are 3.8%, 4%, 3.9%, and 17.7%. The i7's 17.7% win in Geekbench multi-core is the single biggest mismatch. Choose the i7-3615QM if your work is multi-threaded, or the i5-3570K if you prioritize single-thread performance and the unlocked multiplier in a desktop board.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QM scores 2245 versus the i5-3570K's 1907. That is a 17.7% lead for the i7 in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Are the single-core results close?

A: Yes. The i5-3570K wins single-core tests by 40.1% in Geekbench, 3.2% in Cinebench R15, and 3.8% in Cinebench R20. The i7-3615QM trails by 3.2%, 3.8%, and 3.9% in the same tests.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i7-3615QM, with a score of 4393 versus 4221 for the i5-3570K. That is a 3.9% advantage for the mobile i7.

Q: Which chip is in the higher overall percentile?

A: The i5-3570K sits in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, the i7-3615QM in the 34th. The desktop part is rated slightly higher relative to the database.

Specification Differences

The two parts diverge in socket, TDP, market segment, and integrated graphics. The i5-3570K is an LGA 1155 socket part, the i7-3615QM an Intel BGA 1224. The desktop chip has a 77W TDP, the mobile chip is rated at 45W. The i5 is a Desktop part, the i7 is Mobile.

The i5-3570K has an unlocked multiplier; the i7-3615QM does not. The i5's base clock is 3.40 GHz with a 3.80 GHz boost, while the i7 runs a 2.30 GHz base and a 3.30 GHz boost. The i5 has a 3.40 GHz base clock, which is 1.10 GHz higher than the i7's 2.30 GHz, and a 3.80 GHz boost, which is 0.50 GHz higher. Both parts integrate graphics: the i5 in the Intel HD 4000, the i7 in the Intel HD 4000. Neither of them has ECC memory support.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are built on the same Ivy Bridge architecture and 22 nm process. Both are four-core, but the i7-3615QM has 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3570K is a straight 4-thread part. The i5's 6 MB L3 cache is shared; the i7 also has 6 MB shared. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. Transistor count is 1,400 million on a 160 mm² die for both. The i7-3615QM supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, the i5-3570K does too. The i7's integrated graphics are the Intel HD 4000, the i5's are the Intel HD 4000.

Both are end-of-life parts. The i5 was released on 2012-04-28, the i7 on the same day. The i5-3570K part number is SR0PM, the i7-3615QM is SR0MP. The i5's launch MSRP is $212; the i7 has none recorded.