Intel Core i5-3570T vs Intel Core i5-4690T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3570T and Intel Core i5-4690T are both 45W, quad-core desktop processors from Intel, but the data reveals a clear generational gap. The i5-4690T, based on the newer Haswell architecture, is decisively faster across every single benchmark where both were tested. The i5-3570T, an Ivy Bridge part, never manages a single victory in the head-to-head results, making the comparison less about trade-offs and more about the magnitude of the i5-4690T's advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are overwhelmingly one-sided, with the Intel Core i5-4690T winning all five shared tests. The most significant margin appears in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the i5-4690T scores 393 against the i5-3570T's 331, a delta of -15.8%. This pattern holds across newer Cinebench versions as well. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-4690T posts 1640 points versus 1383 for the i5-3570T, a 15.7% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same story: 3905 points for the i5-4690T against 3293 for the i5-3570T, again a 15.7% delta.

Single-core performance tells a similar tale, though with slightly narrower margins. The i5-4690T achieves 231 points in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the i5-3570T manages only 195, a 15.6% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the scores are 551 and 465 respectively, also a 15.6% delta. The consistency of these margins—hovering between 15.6% and 15.8% across all tests—suggests that the performance gap is architectural and uniform, rather than workload-specific. The i5-4690T's higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz compared to 3.30 GHz on the i5-3570T likely contributes, but the fact that the percentage stays nearly identical across single and multi-threaded workloads points to a fundamental IPC improvement in Haswell.

Interestingly, the i5-3570T has a Geekbench multi-core score of 1705 and a single-core score of 578, but the i5-4690T has no Geekbench scores in the data. This means the head-to-head comparison is exclusively Cinebench-based. The i5-4690T's average benchmark score of 1129 is actually slightly lower than the i5-3570T's 1136, a counterintuitive result that likely reflects the different mix of benchmarks available for each chip. The i5-4690T's percentile ranking of 32 places it in the same percentile as the i5-3570T, which also ranks at 32, indicating that despite the i5-4690T's clear win in Cinebench, both chips occupy a similar position in the overall CPU landscape.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-4690T is significantly faster, scoring 3905 points compared to the i5-3570T's 3293, a 15.7% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-3570T wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-3570T winning 0 out of 5 tests. The i5-4690T wins all five shared benchmarks, including Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multi-core variants.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-3570T has a higher average benchmark score of 1136, while the i5-4690T averages 1129. This is despite the i5-4690T winning every head-to-head test, likely due to differing benchmark sets.

Q: What is the difference in their boost clock speeds?

A: The i5-4690T has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i5-3570T boost to 3.30 GHz. The i5-4690T also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both the i5-3570T and the i5-4690T feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a better integrated GPU?

A: The i5-4690T features Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the i5-3570T comes with Intel HD 2500. This is a notable difference, as the HD 4600 is a more capable integrated solution.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark data, the use-case split is straightforward: the Intel Core i5-4690T wins everywhere that matters for CPU compute. Its consistent 15.6-15.8% lead across all Cinebench tests makes it the clear choice for any workload that relies on multi-core rendering, such as video encoding, 3D modeling, or batch photo processing. The single-core advantage is equally important for applications that depend on strong single-threaded performance, including older games, spreadsheet calculations, and general desktop responsiveness.

The Intel Core i5-3570T does have one point in its favor: a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1136 versus 1129. However, this is a statistical artifact. The i5-3570T's benchmark suite includes Geekbench scores (1705 multi-core, 578 single-core), which the i5-4690T lacks. If a system relies heavily on Geekbench-specific workloads, the i5-3570T's available data suggests it performs respectably. But for any Cinebench-based workload—which is the only direct comparison available—the i5-4690T is unequivocally superior.

There is also the matter of integrated graphics. The i5-4690T's Intel HD 4600 is a generational upgrade over the i5-3570T's Intel HD 2500. For a desktop system without a discrete GPU, this makes the i5-4690T the better option for light media playback, basic 2D gaming, or hardware-accelerated video decoding. The i5-3570T's older graphics solution would struggle in these scenarios. Therefore, the i5-4690T wins for both CPU-heavy tasks and for systems relying on iGPU output.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond their names. The socket is a major divergence: the i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i5-4690T uses Intel Socket 1150. This means they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard, and a platform upgrade is required to move from one to the other. Clock speeds also differ, with the i5-4690T running at 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, compared to the i5-3570T's 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

Memory bandwidth is another difference, though only listed for the i5-4690T at 25.6 GB/s; the i5-3570T's memory bandwidth is not provided in the data. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory. The integrated graphics differ, as noted: Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3570T versus Intel HD 4600 on the i5-4690T. The die size also changes, with the i5-3570T at 160 mm² and the i5-4690T at 177 mm², despite both using a 22 nm process node and containing 1,400 million transistors.

The part numbers and release dates differ as well. The i5-3570T has part number SR0P1 and was released on 2012-04-28, while the i5-4690T has part number SR1QT and was released on 2014-04-30. Both are locked multipliers, meaning they cannot be overclocked. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither has a launch MSRP listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is the root cause of the performance disparity. The i5-3570T is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the i5-4690T uses Haswell. Both are manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process node by the same foundry, Intel, and both pack 1,400 million transistors. However, the die size grows from 160 mm² on Ivy Bridge to 177 mm² on Haswell, reflecting the more complex Haswell design.

This architectural change brings about the IPC improvement that shows up in the benchmark deltas. Haswell introduced a new front-end design and improved execution units, which allows the i5-4690T to extract more instructions per clock cycle. The higher base and boost clocks on the i5-4690T further amplify this advantage. Both chips share the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. This means the performance gain comes entirely from the execution core itself, not from a larger cache.

The integrated graphics architecture also changes. The i5-3570T's HD 2500 is based on Ivy Bridge's graphics engine, while the i5-4690T's HD 4600 is a Haswell-generation GPU. Haswell's graphics unit offers better shader performance and additional features, which is why the HD 4600 is a more capable iGPU. The memory controller is also updated, with the i5-4690T listing a 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, though the i5-3570T's is unspecified. Both support DDR3 in dual-channel mode. The socket change (1155 to 1150) is a direct consequence of the new architecture, as Haswell requires a different power delivery system and chipset.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4690T is the superior processor. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent 15.6-15.8% margin, and it offers a more powerful integrated GPU. Anyone building a system that demands the best available CPU performance from this comparison should choose the i5-4690T. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with the Haswell architecture's IPC gains, make it faster in every measurable Cinebench scenario.

The Intel Core i5-3570T is not without merit, but its case rests on a single stat: the average benchmark score of 1136, which edges out the i5-4690T's 1129. This is a marginal and misleading advantage, given that the i5-3570T's score is buoyed by Geekbench results that the i5-4690T does not have. In a direct comparison, the i5-3570T loses every time. It would only be a reasonable choice if you already own a Socket 1155 motherboard and cannot or will not upgrade the platform. For any new build or upgrade, the i5-4690T is the only logical pick based on the benchmarks. The 15.7% performance delta is too large to ignore, and the iGPU advantage solidifies its position as the better all-around processor.