Intel Core i5-4570 vs Intel Core i9-9990XE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570 and Intel Core i9-9990XE occupy opposite ends of the desktop spectrum, yet benchmark aggregation places them nearly neck-and-neck in average score. The i5-4570 posts an average benchmark score of 7421, while the i9-9990XE scores 7415, a delta of just 0.1% in favor of the older chip. This statistical tie, however, masks a dramatic divergence in workload characteristics: the i5-4570 wins on aggregate due to a broader benchmark suite, while the i9-9990XE dominates every head-to-head Cinebench test by a staggering 82.7%. The data reveals two processors with identical performance percentiles (63rd) but fundamentally different design philosophies and application strengths.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split based on workload type. For users running single-threaded or lightly-threaded applications, the Intel Core i9-9990XE is the unequivocal choice; it delivers 364 points in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 63 for the i5-4570, and 3619 points in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 627. The i9-9990XE also wins decisively in multi-threaded rendering tasks, scoring 2584 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 25637 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 447 and 4442 respectively for the i5-4570. The 82.7% delta across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests indicates the i9-9990XE is in a different performance class for these workloads.

However, the aggregate average benchmark score tells a more nuanced story. The i5-4570 achieves an average benchmark score of 7421, slightly ahead of the i9-9990XE's 7415, driven by its strong showing in PassMark tests that are not part of the head-to-head comparison. The i5-4570 scores 5238 in PassMark multithread, 15415 in integer math, and 11706 in floating point math, contributing to its higher average. This suggests the i5-4570 remains relevant for general-purpose computing tasks, despite being far behind in rendering-specific benchmarks. The verdict: choose the i9-9990XE for content creation, rendering, and heavy multi-threaded workloads; choose the i5-4570 for legacy systems or tasks where the PassMark suite reflects real-world usage patterns.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and design points. The Intel Core i5-4570 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, featuring 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i5-4570 includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Its thermal design power is 84 watts, and it supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus. Integrated graphics are present in the form of Intel HD 4600, and PCIe connectivity is Gen 3.

The Intel Core i9-9990XE uses the Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process node, a newer and more complex design. It packs 14 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its thermal design power is 255 watts, substantially higher than the i5-4570. The i9-9990XE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, a much larger 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, compared to dual-channel DDR3 for the i5-4570. The i9-9990XE offers PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes from the CPU, and its multiplier is unlocked, while the i5-4570's is locked. The i9-9990XE has no integrated graphics, whereas the i5-4570 includes Intel HD 4600.

The socket and platform differences are stark: the i5-4570 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i9-9990XE uses Intel Socket 2066. The i9-9990XE was released on 2018-10-18 and is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-4570 launched on 2013-06-01. The i9-9990XE carries a launch MSRP of $2800, a figure that reflects its extreme positioning. The i5-4570 has no launch MSRP in the data. The i9-9990XE's generation is listed as Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 9th Gen), while the i5-4570 is Core i5 (Haswell).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains only Cinebench tests, and the i9-9990XE wins all six by an identical 82.7% margin. This uniformity is striking. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-9990XE scores 2584 against 447 for the i5-4570. The single-core R15 test shows 364 versus 63. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 10767 for the i9-9990XE and 1865 for the i5-4570; single-core is 1519 versus 263. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core result is 25637 against 4442, and single-core is 3619 versus 627.

The consistent 82.7% delta across all tests suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent. The i9-9990XE's 14 cores and 28 threads, combined with a 5.10 GHz boost clock, give it a massive advantage in both throughput and per-core speed. The i5-4570's 4 cores and 4 threads at 3.60 GHz boost simply cannot compete in these rendering workloads. The i9-9990XE also benefits from a larger L3 cache (19.25 MB versus 6 MB) and newer DDR4 memory with quad-channel bandwidth, which likely contributes to the sustained performance in multi-threaded tests.

The aggregate benchmark scores, however, tell a different story. The i5-4570's average benchmark score of 7421 is 0.1% higher than the i9-9990XE's 7415. This is driven by PassMark tests where the i5-4570 shows surprising strength. The i5-4570 scores 75010 in data compression, 1321 in data encryption, 5961 in extended instructions, 31 in find prime numbers, 11706 in floating point math, 15415 in integer math, 5238 in multithread, 395 in physics, 9992 in random string sorting, and 2033 in single-thread tests. These scores, particularly in integer math and floating point math, contribute to the i5-4570's higher aggregate average. The i9-9990XE lacks PassMark scores in the data pack, so its average relies solely on Cinebench results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570 has an average benchmark score of 7421, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-9990XE's 7415, according to the nearest rivals data.

Q: How much faster is the i9-9990XE in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-9990XE scores 25637 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i5-4570 scores 4442. The i9-9990XE wins by an 82.7% margin.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-4570 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i9-9990XE has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The i5-4570 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, while the i9-9990XE supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

Q: What is the core and thread count for each processor?

A: The i5-4570 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i9-9990XE has 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-9990XE has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, compared to the i5-4570's boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-9990XE wins decisively in every head-to-head Cinebench test, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its 82.7% advantage in all six tests indicates that it is the superior choice for rendering, video encoding, 3D modeling, and any application that relies heavily on Cinebench-style workloads. The 14-core, 28-thread configuration, combined with a 5.10 GHz boost clock and 19.25 MB of L3 cache, makes it a powerhouse for multi-threaded content creation. The quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth further supports memory-intensive tasks. For professionals running Cinebench-class applications, the i9-9990XE is the clear winner.

The i5-4570 wins on aggregate average benchmark score, posting 7421 versus 7415 for the i9-9990XE. This suggests that for a broader set of tasks, including those represented by PassMark tests like data compression (75010), integer math (15415), and floating point math (11706), the i5-4570 holds its own. Its lower thermal design power of 84 watts, compared to 255 watts for the i9-9990XE, also makes it a more power-efficient choice for systems where thermals and cooling are a concern. The i5-4570 includes integrated graphics, which is a practical advantage for basic display output without a discrete GPU. For legacy systems on Socket 1150 with DDR3 memory, the i5-4570 remains a viable processor for everyday computing and light multitasking.

The data also shows both processors occupy the same performance percentile (63rd) relative to all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are nearly identical in average score. The i5-4570's closest rival is the AMD EPYC 7282 with a delta of 0.2%, while the i9-9990XE's closest rival is the AMD EPYC 7282 with a delta of 0.1%. This indicates that despite their architectural differences, both processors sit in a similar performance tier when averaged across all benchmarks. The choice ultimately depends on whether the user's workload aligns with Cinebench-style rendering (i9-9990XE) or general-purpose computing (i5-4570).