Intel Core i5-4570 vs Intel Core i9-9960X Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark database shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core i9-9960X across all eight head-to-head tests. The Core i5-4570, a quad-core Haswell part from 2013, does not register a single win in any recorded measurement. The i9-9960X, a 16-core Skylake-X flagship from 2018, dominates every category including single-threaded workloads, which is notable given its much higher core count.

For single-thread performance, the i9-9960X leads in Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench. The largest single-thread gap appears in Cinebench R23, where the i9 posts 3546 points versus 627 for the i5, a delta of -82.3% (meaning the i5 trails by that percentage). Even in Geekbench single-core, where the gap is smallest, the i9 still wins by 25.4%, scoring 1396 versus 1041.

Multi-threaded workloads show the most dramatic separation. The i9-9960X scores 25120 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i5-4570 manages only 4442, an 82.3% deficit. Geekbench multi-core tells a similar story: 10512 for the i9 versus 3118 for the i5, a 70.3% gap. The i9's 16 cores and 32 threads simply overwhelm the i5's 4 cores and 4 threads in any parallel workload.

The use-case split is clear. The i5-4570 remains adequate for basic desktop tasks, legacy software, and older games that rely on modest single-thread performance. The i9-9960X is the choice for rendering, compilation, scientific computing, and any workload that scales across many cores. It also wins single-thread tests by a substantial margin, so there is no scenario in the recorded data where the i5 performs better.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The i5-4570 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The i9-9960X uses Skylake-X on a 14 nm process with a much larger 484 mm² die. The transistor count for the i9 is not recorded in the database, but the die size difference is significant: the i9 is nearly three times larger, allowing for 16 cores versus 4.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core for the i5, but the i9 has 1 MB of L2 per core, four times as much. The shared L3 cache jumps from 6 MB on the i5 to 22 MB on the i9. These cache differences directly feed the i9's ability to keep more data closer to the cores, reducing memory stalls in heavily threaded workloads.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i5-4570 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the i9-9960X uses DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The i5's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database, but the channel count alone tells the story: quad-channel provides twice the memory paths of dual-channel, which matters for multi-core throughput. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The i5-4570 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), while the i9-9960X has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the i9 offers 44 lanes (CPU only) versus the i5's unspecified lane count. The i5 uses socket 1150, the i9 uses socket 2066, making them incompatible with each other's motherboards. The i5 has a locked multiplier, while the i9 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the i9-9960X scoring 2532 against the i5-4570's 447, a delta of -82.3% for the i5. This means the i9 is roughly 5.7 times faster in this render workload. The single-core R15 result is similarly lopsided: 357 versus 63, also -82.3%, showing the i9's newer architecture and higher boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz) deliver a massive per-thread advantage.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern. Multi-core: 10550 for the i9, 1865 for the i5, -82.3%. Single-core: 1489 versus 263, again -82.3%. The consistency of this delta across R15 and R20 suggests the performance ratio is stable regardless of the specific rendering engine version. Cinebench R23 maintains the same trend with 25120 versus 4442 multi-core and 3546 versus 627 single-core, both at -82.3%.

Geekbench shows a slightly different picture. Multi-core: 10512 for the i9, 3118 for the i5, a delta of -70.3%. This is a smaller gap than Cinebench, likely because Geekbench's workload mix includes more memory-latency-sensitive tasks that partially mitigate the i9's core advantage. Single-core: 1396 versus 1041, only -25.4%. This is the closest result in the entire comparison. The i9 still wins clearly, but the i5's Haswell architecture is not far behind in pure single-thread integer and floating-point work as measured by Geekbench.

The i9-9960X wins all eight head-to-head tests. The most dominant wins are in Cinebench multi-core tests, where the delta stays pinned at -82.3% across all three versions. The least dominant is Geekbench single-core at -25.4%. The recorded data shows no test where the i5 comes within even 20% of the i9.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4570 | Intel Core i9-9960X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 32 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 165 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Skylake |

| Process node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die size | 177 mm² | 484 mm² |

| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 22 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 85.3 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 44 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release date | 2013-06-01 | 2018-10-18 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $1684 |

| Production status | Not recorded | End-of-life |

The i9 has four times the cores and eight times the threads of the i5. Its base clock is slightly lower (3.10 GHz versus 3.20 GHz), but the boost clock is 0.90 GHz higher (4.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz). The i9's TDP of 165 W is nearly double the i5's 84 W, reflecting the extra cores and higher boost frequency.

The i9's L2 cache is 1 MB per core versus 256 KB per core, and its L3 is 22 MB shared versus 6 MB shared. The memory subsystem moves from DDR3 dual-channel on the i5 to DDR4 quad-channel on the i9, with the i9's memory bandwidth recorded at 85.3 GB/s. The i5 has integrated graphics; the i9 does not. The i9 is end-of-life per the database, while the i5's production status is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9960X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4570 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i9 has four times the cores and eight times the threads.

Q: Is the i9-9960X always faster than the i5-4570 in the recorded benchmarks?

A: Yes. The i9-9960X wins all eight head-to-head tests in the database, including all Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench multi-core and single-core tests. The closest margin is Geekbench single-core at -25.4% for the i5.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gaps are in Cinebench multi-core tests, where the i5 trails by -82.3% across R15, R20, and R23. Geekbench multi-core shows a -70.3% gap, and the single-core gaps range from -25.4% (Geekbench) to -82.4% (Cinebench R15).

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type and channel configuration?

A: No. The i5-4570 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus. The i9-9960X uses DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: Only the i5-4570 has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The i9-9960X has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Can the i9-9960X be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i9-9960X has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-4570 does not have an unlocked multiplier, so its clock speeds are locked to the rated values.