Intel Core i5-3570K vs Intel Core i7-3770T Comparison

Both processors are Ivy Bridge parts on the Intel Socket 1155 platform, but they are engineered for different missions. The Core i7-3770T is a low-power part, while the Core i5-3570K is a mainstream desktop chip with an unlocked multiplier. Benchmark results show a clear split: the i7-3770T dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the i5-3570K wins decisively in Geekbench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of two distinct usage profiles. The Intel Core i7-3770T takes the win in six of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, all of them Cinebench tests. Its victories range from 8.3% to 9.3% over the i5-3570K. This consistency suggests the i7-3770T is the stronger choice for rendering tasks, which is precisely what Cinebench measures. The multicore Cinebench results are particularly telling: the i7-3770T scores 464 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 425 for the i5-3570K, a 9.2% advantage. That edge grows slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-3770T posts 1936 against 1772 for the i5-3570K, a 9.3% gap.

The i5-3570K, however, wins the Geekbench tests outright. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-3570K scores 2245 versus 1916 for the i7-3770T, a substantial 14.7% lead. The single-core Geekbench gap is even larger: 776 for the i5-3570K versus 592 for the i7-3770T, a 23.7% difference. This makes the i5-3570K the better option for workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point tasks, which often include encryption, compression, and memory-bound operations.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i7-3770T averages 1314 across all benchmarks, placing it in the 35th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-3570K averages 1293, also in the 35th percentile. The i7-3770T's nearest rival is the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, which scores 1311 for a delta of 0.2%. The i5-3570K sits near the Intel Core i7-3630QM, which scores 1289 for a delta of 0.3%. Both processors occupy similar overall performance tiers, but they achieve that standing through very different strengths.

Architecture Differences

Both chips share the same foundational architecture. They are built on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, using Intel's 22 nm process node, and both have 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The foundry is Intel for both. The i7-3770T is classified as a Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation part, while the i5-3570K is a Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) part.

The critical architectural divergence is in threading and cache. The i7-3770T has 4 cores and 8 threads, meaning it supports Hyper-Threading. The i5-3570K has 4 cores and only 4 threads, with no Hyper-Threading. This explains the i7-3770T's Cinebench multicore advantage, as rendering engines scale well with additional threads. The L3 cache also differs: the i7-3770T has 8 MB shared L3, while the i5-3570K has 6 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core.

The integrated graphics are identical: both feature Intel HD 4000. Memory support is also the same, with DDR3 on a dual-channel bus. The PCIe implementation is identical as well, with Gen 3 and 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The power envelope is where the two diverge sharply. The i7-3770T has a TDP of 45 watts, while the i5-3570K has a TDP of 77 watts. That 32-watt difference is substantial and reflects the i7-3770T's low-power design goal. The i5-3570K is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i7-3770T has no production status listed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is entirely owned by the i7-3770T. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3770T scores 464 against 425 for the i5-3570K, a win of 9.2%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 65 for the i7-3770T versus 60 for the i5-3570K, an 8.3% margin. Moving to R20, the i7-3770T posts 1936 in multicore versus 1772 for the i5-3570K, a 9.3% lead. The R20 single-core result is 273 versus 250, a 9.2% advantage for the i7-3770T.

The R23 results continue the pattern. The i7-3770T scores 4611 in multicore versus 4221 for the i5-3570K, a 9.2% win. In single-core R23, the i7-3770T takes 651 versus 596, also a 9.2% margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-3770T's advantage is remarkably consistent, hovering between 8.3% and 9.3%. This uniformity suggests the i7-3770T's extra threads and larger cache deliver a steady benefit in this workload class.

Geekbench flips the script entirely. The i5-3570K wins multicore with 2245 against 1916 for the i7-3770T, a 14.7% difference. The single-core test is even more lopsided: 776 for the i5-3570K versus 592 for the i7-3770T, a 23.7% gap. The i5-3570K's higher base and boost clocks, at 3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively, likely drive this result. The i7-3770T runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i5-3570K's clock advantage matters more in Geekbench's single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads, where the i7-3770T's extra threads provide no benefit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields. Core count is the same at 4, but thread count differs: the i7-3770T has 8 threads, the i5-3570K has 4. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the i7-3770T and 3.40 GHz for the i5-3570K, a 0.90 GHz difference. Boost clocks are closer: 3.70 GHz for the i7-3770T and 3.80 GHz for the i5-3570K.

TDP is a major differentiator, with the i7-3770T rated at 45 watts and the i5-3570K at 77 watts. L3 cache sizes differ, with 8 MB on the i7-3770T and 6 MB on the i5-3570K. The i5-3570K has a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3770T has no memory bandwidth figure in the data. The i5-3570K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-3770T does not. The i5-3570K has a launch MSRP of $212, while the i7-3770T has no launch MSRP listed. Part numbers also differ: SR0PQ for the i7-3770T and SR0PM for the i5-3570K.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770T wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks. It takes all six Cinebench tests, while the Intel Core i5-3570K wins both Geekbench tests.

Q: How much faster is the i7-3770T in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i7-3770T scores 4611 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the i5-3570K scores 4221. This is a 9.2% advantage for the i7-3770T.

Q: What is the i5-3570K's biggest single benchmark win?

A: The i5-3570K's largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 776 against 592 for the i7-3770T. That is a 23.7% lead.

Q: Do both processors use the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-3770T and the Intel Core i5-3570K feature Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics.

Q: Is the i5-3570K overclockable?

A: Yes, the i5-3570K has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-3770T does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-3770T has an average benchmark score of 1314, and the i5-3570K has an average score of 1293. Both sit in the 35th percentile of all CPUs.