Intel Core i5-3570S vs Intel Core i5-4430 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570S and the Intel Core i5-4430 are two quad-core desktop processors separated by one generation of Intel architecture. The data from our benchmark suite shows a clear, though narrow, overall winner: the i5-3570S takes all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, but the performance margins are so thin that the choice between them likely comes down to platform features rather than raw speed. The i5-3570S leads in every Cinebench test, while the i5-4430 counters with a newer architecture, a more capable integrated GPU, and a different socket.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous in terms of compute performance: the i5-3570S wins every single test recorded in the database. Across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 runs, both multi-core and single-core, the i5-3570S posts a higher score. The largest advantage is a 0.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, with the remaining five tests showing a 0.4% or 0% delta. For practical purposes, these two CPUs are nearly identical in CPU-bound workloads, but the i5-3570S holds the statistical edge in every measured category.

Where the i5-4430 makes its case is not in the CPU benchmark results but in its platform and feature set. It uses the Haswell architecture on the Intel Socket 1150, which offers a newer foundation than the Ivy Bridge-based i5-3570S on Socket 1155. The i5-4430 also comes with Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, a significant step up from the HD 2500 found on the i5-3570S. For a user who plans to rely on integrated graphics for basic display output or light media tasks, the i5-4430 is the better choice despite its slightly lower CPU scores.

A user prioritizing maximum multi-threaded and single-threaded benchmark numbers, even by fractions of a percent, should pick the i5-3570S. A user building a new system on a Socket 1150 motherboard, or one who needs the more modern HD 4600 graphics, should lean toward the i5-4430. The wins are split by category: CPU benchmarks go entirely to the i5-3570S, while architecture and graphics favor the i5-4430.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent successive Intel generations. The i5-3570S is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm architecture, and belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. The i5-4430 is a Haswell part, also on a 22 nm process, and belongs to the Core i5 (Haswell) generation. Both use the same Intel foundry and the same process node, but the underlying designs differ.

The most visible difference is the socket. The i5-3570S uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4430 uses Intel Socket 1150. These are not interchangeable, so the motherboard choice is dictated by the CPU. The i5-4430 reports a transistor count of 1,400 million and a die size of 177 mm², figures that are not recorded for the i5-3570S, but they illustrate that Haswell is a physically larger and more complex design than Ivy Bridge.

Both chips have four cores and four threads, with identical cache layouts: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. They also both support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel memory bus, and neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe support differs slightly: the i5-3570S is listed as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4430 is simply listed as Gen 3. The i5-3570S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i5-4430 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3570S also carries a lower TDP at 65 watts, compared to the i5-4430's 84 watts.

The integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The i5-3570S ships with Intel HD 2500, while the i5-4430 ships with Intel HD 4600. The newer HD 4600 is a more capable GPU, which matters for systems without a discrete graphics card.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the i5-3570S wins all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3570S scores 402 against the i5-4430's 400, a 0.5% lead. In R15 single-core, both CPUs score 56, resulting in a 0% delta, but the i5-3570S is still listed as the winner. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-3570S scores 1676 versus 1669, a 0.4% advantage. In R20 single-core, the i5-3570S scores 236 against 235, again a 0.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-3570S scores 3991 versus 3974, a 0.4% margin. In R23 single-core, the i5-3570S scores 563 against 561, another 0.4% lead.

These deltas are tiny, often within run-to-run variance, but the pattern is consistent. The i5-3570S's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the i5-4430's 3.20 GHz, likely explains its edge in single-core tests. The multi-core advantage is smaller, suggesting that both CPUs are thermally limited or that the Haswell architecture's efficiency gains nearly offset the clock speed difference.

For context on where these chips sit in the broader market, the database records an average benchmark score of 1169 for the i5-3570S and 1149 for the i5-4430. Both processors fall in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are mid-pack performers. The i5-3570S's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2960XM with an identical average score of 1169, the AMD Opteron 6220 at 1168 (a 0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i7-3635QM at 1170 (a -0.1% delta). The i5-4430's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3612QE at 1147 (a 0.2% delta), the AMD Opteron 4284 at 1146 (a 0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i7-2600S at 1146 (a 0.3% delta). Neither chip is a standout in the current database, but both are well-matched to each other.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3570S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Core i5-4430 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

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

A: Yes, both the i5-3570S and the i5-4430 have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the main architectural difference between the two?

A: The i5-3570S is based on Ivy Bridge architecture and uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4430 is based on Haswell architecture and uses Intel Socket 1150.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4430 has Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, which is a more capable GPU than the Intel HD 2500 found in the i5-3570S.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-3570S scores 3991, while the i5-4430 scores 3974, giving the i5-3570S a 0.4% lead.

Q: Is there a significant performance gap between the two?

A: No, the performance gap is minimal. The i5-3570S wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, but the largest margin is only 0.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward verdict: the Intel Core i5-3570S is the faster CPU in every benchmark test recorded, but the margin is so small that it should not be the sole deciding factor. The i5-3570S wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from 0% to 0.5%. Its higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz gives it a consistent, if marginal, advantage in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

However, the i5-4430 is not without merit. Its Haswell architecture is a generation newer, and it brings Intel HD 4600 graphics, which are clearly superior to the HD 2500 in the i5-3570S. For a system that will rely on integrated graphics, the i5-4430 is the better choice. Additionally, the i5-4430 uses Socket 1150, which may be more relevant for users looking at newer motherboards or specific platform features.

The average benchmark scores tell the same story: 1169 for the i5-3570S versus 1149 for the i5-4430. Both sit in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. They are best suited for budget or legacy builds where moderate quad-core performance is sufficient.

If the choice is purely about CPU benchmark numbers, pick the i5-3570S. It wins every test, and its lower 65 watt TDP also makes it a more power-efficient option. If the choice is about platform longevity, integrated graphics quality, or a Socket 1150 motherboard requirement, the i5-4430 is the logical pick. The i5-4430 also has a larger die size and higher transistor count, reflecting its more complex design, but these do not translate into a performance win in the recorded data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-3570S has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the i5-4430 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The TDP is 65 watts for the i5-3570S and 84 watts for the i5-4430. The socket is Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3570S and Intel Socket 1150 for the i5-4430. The architecture is Ivy Bridge for the i5-3570S and Haswell for the i5-4430. The i5-4430 reports a transistor count of 1,400 million and a die size of 177 mm², while these figures are not recorded for the i5-3570S. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2500 for the i5-3570S and Intel HD 4600 for the i5-4430. The PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the i5-3570S, and Gen 3 for the i5-4430. The release dates also differ, with the i5-3570S released in 2012 and the i5-4430 released in 2013. Both share the same core count, thread count, cache sizes, memory support, and lack of ECC memory support.