Intel Core i5-3570T vs Intel Core i7-3612QE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data delivers a clear, unambiguous verdict: the Intel Core i7-3612QE wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all five tests with a decisive 20.5% margin in most categories. The i5-3570T never manages a single victory, making this one of the more lopsided matchups in the database. The i7-3612QE’s dominance is consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads, which points to a fundamental advantage in how the chip processes instructions rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Starting with multi-core performance, the i7-3612QE posts a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 399 against the i5-3570T’s 331, a 20.5% advantage. That same exact delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 scores 1666 and the i5 scores 1383. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core as well: 3967 for the i7 versus 3293 for the i5, again a 20.5% gap. This uniformity across three different Cinebench versions is striking — it suggests the performance difference is structural, not a quirk of any one benchmark revision. The i7-3612QE’s extra threads are the obvious explanation, as the chip features 8 threads versus the i5’s 4.

Single-core results tell a similar story, though the margin is slightly tighter. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-3612QE scores 235 versus the i5-3570T’s 195, a 20.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 560 for the i7 and 465 for the i5, a 20.4% delta. The near-identical percentage in both single-core and multi-core tests is notable — it means the i7-3612QE’s advantage is not merely a matter of having more threads to throw at parallel workloads. Even when both chips are limited to a single core, the i7-3612QE pulls ahead by roughly the same proportion, indicating a per-core efficiency advantage that compounds with the thread count advantage.

The i5-3570T does have higher clock speeds on paper — a 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost versus the i7-3612QE’s 2.10 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost — yet the benchmark data shows the i7 winning every time. This is a case where raw clock speed does not translate into actual performance dominance. The i7-3612QE’s 8 threads allow it to extract more work per clock cycle in threaded workloads, and its superior single-core scores suggest the architecture is simply more efficient per core in these Cinebench tests.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the i7-3612QE’s average benchmark score sits at 1147, putting it in the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. The i5-3570T averages 1136, landing in the 32nd percentile. These near-identical aggregate scores might suggest the chips are close overall, but the head-to-head data reveals the i7-3612QE’s wins are concentrated in the most demanding rendering workloads. The i5-3570T does have a Geekbench single-core score of 578 and a multi-core score of 1705, but there is no corresponding Geekbench data for the i7-3612QE in this comparison, so those results cannot be directly compared here. What the head-to-head tests do show is that whenever both chips run the same Cinebench workload, the i7-3612QE wins by a consistent 20.5% margin.

The Verdict

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the Intel Core i7-3612QE is the faster processor in every measurable category within this comparison. With 5 wins and 0 losses in the head-to-head benchmarks, there is no scenario in the provided data where the i5-3570T comes out ahead. Anyone prioritizing raw Cinebench rendering performance should choose the i7-3612QE without hesitation.

That said, the choice is not purely about speed. The i7-3612QE is a mobile processor with a 35W TDP, designed for laptops and other portable devices on the Intel BGA 1023 socket. The i5-3570T is a desktop chip with a 45W TDP on the Intel Socket 1155 platform. These are fundamentally different market segments — one is built for power-constrained mobile environments, the other for desktop systems with more thermal headroom. The i7-3612QE manages to outperform the i5-3570T while consuming less power, which is an impressive efficiency result, but it means the two chips are not direct drop-in replacements for the same system.

For a mobile user who needs maximum rendering performance in a laptop, the i7-3612QE is the clear pick. For a desktop user who values the i5-3570T’s higher clock speeds and does not need multi-threading, the i5-3570T remains a viable option — but the benchmark data does not support choosing it for performance reasons. The i5-3570T’s only potential advantages lie outside the benchmark data: it supports DDR3 memory and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, whereas the i7-3612QE’s memory support is not listed in the data. But strictly on the numbers, the i7-3612QE wins every test.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on the same 22 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. Both chips feature 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 160 mm². The L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core, L2 is the same at 256 KB per core, and both share 6 MB of L3 cache. The core count is also identical at 4 physical cores.

The critical architectural divergence is in threading. The i7-3612QE supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5-3570T is limited to 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading. This doubles the i7’s logical core count and directly explains its 20.5% lead in multi-core benchmarks. The i7-3612QE belongs to the Core i7 generation lineup, while the i5-3570T is a Core i5 part, and the tier difference manifests precisely in this threading capability.

Another architectural difference lies in the integrated graphics. The i7-3612QE ships with Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i5-3570T uses the lower-tier Intel HD 2500. Neither chip has benchmark data for graphics performance in this comparison, so the practical impact cannot be quantified, but the i7-3612QE carries the more capable integrated GPU.

The memory controller also differs in what the data reveals. The i5-3570T explicitly supports DDR3 memory, while the i7-3612QE’s memory support is not listed. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-3570T also explicitly lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3612QE’s PCIe configuration is not documented in the data.

Specification Differences

The two chips diverge on several specification fields. The i7-3612QE has 8 threads versus the i5-3570T’s 4 threads. Base clock speeds differ: the i5-3570T runs at 2.30 GHz, higher than the i7-3612QE’s 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks follow the same pattern, with the i5 reaching 3.30 GHz versus the i7’s 3.10 GHz.

Thermal design power is another key difference. The i7-3612QE is rated at 35W, while the i5-3570T draws 45W. This means the i7-3612QE delivers superior benchmark performance while consuming 10W less power. The socket types are entirely different: the i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023 (a mobile socket), while the i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155 (a desktop socket).

The integrated graphics differ, as noted: HD 4000 on the i7-3612QE versus HD 2500 on the i5-3570T. The market segments are also distinct, with the i7-3612QE targeting mobile devices and the i5-3570T aimed at desktops. Release dates are identical — both launched on 2012-04-28 — and neither chip has a launch MSRP listed in the data. Both are multiplier-unlocked false, meaning neither supports unlocked overclocking. The part numbers are SR0ND for the i7-3612QE and SR0P1 for the i5-3570T. The i5-3570T explicitly lists DDR3 memory support and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-3612QE does not list memory support or PCIe details.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-3612QE wins all multi-core benchmarks. It scores 399 versus 331 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 1666 versus 1383 in R20 multi-core, and 3967 versus 3293 in R23 multi-core, each a 20.5% advantage.

Q: Does the i5-3570T win any benchmarks in this comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i7-3612QE winning all 5 benchmarks, with the i5-3570T recording 0 wins.

Q: Why does the i7-3612QE outperform the i5-3570T despite lower clock speeds?

A: The i7-3612QE has 8 threads versus the i5-3570T’s 4 threads, doubling its logical core count. Additionally, the i7-3612QE wins single-core tests by 20.4-20.5%, indicating a per-core efficiency advantage beyond thread count.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-3612QE has a 35W TDP, while the i5-3570T has a 45W TDP. The i7-3612QE uses 10W less power while delivering higher benchmark scores.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023 (a mobile socket), while the i5-3570T uses Intel Socket 1155 (a desktop socket). They target different platforms.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i7-3612QE features Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i5-3570T features Intel HD 2500. No graphics benchmarks are provided in the data to quantify the difference.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3612QE wins in every benchmark category where both chips have data. That includes Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. Its wins are uniform at roughly 20.5% across the board, making it the superior choice for any workload that relies on CPU rendering, video encoding, 3D modeling, or any multi-threaded application that can leverage its 8 threads. The single-core wins also make it the better pick for lightly-threaded tasks that still depend on per-core efficiency.

The i5-3570T wins no benchmarks in this comparison, but it does have data in areas where the i7-3612QE lacks coverage. The i5-3570T has a Geekbench single-core score of 578 and a multi-core score of 1705, but since there is no Geekbench result for the i7-3612QE in the data, these cannot be directly compared. The i5-3570T also offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes and explicit DDR3 memory support, which could make it the more practical choice for a desktop system where those features matter.

For use-case planning, the i7-3612QE is the clear pick for mobile workstations and laptops where rendering performance and power efficiency are both priorities. Its 35W TDP means it can fit in thinner, cooler-running chassis while still outperforming the desktop i5-3570T. The i5-3570T, despite losing every benchmark, remains a desktop part with higher clock speeds and broader platform connectivity options. In a desktop build where the user does not need Hyper-Threading and prefers the Intel Socket 1155 platform, the i5-3570T is the only one of the two that physically fits. But for pure CPU performance, the data is unambiguous: the i7-3612QE wins every test it appears in.