Intel Core i5-4570R vs Intel Core i7-3610QE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570R and Intel Core i7-3610QE present a fascinating study in generational and architectural trade-offs. While the i7-3610QE dominates the Cinebench suite, the i5-4570R strikes back decisively in Geekbench, creating a split personality that defies a simple "winner" narrative. The data reveals two chips optimized for fundamentally different priorities, separated by a year of design philosophy.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are starkly divided between the two test suites. In the Cinebench lineage, the Intel Core i7-3610QE is the clear victor across every single test. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around a 14-15% deficit for the i5-4570R. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3610QE scores 456 against the i5-4570R's 390, a delta of -14.5%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 64 for the i7 versus 54 for the i5, a -15.6% gap. This pattern holds for Cinebench R20, where the i7-3610QE posts 1903 multicore and 268 single-core, versus 1629 and 229 for the i5-4570R, representing -14.4% and -14.6% deltas respectively. The R23 results are nearly identical in percentage terms, with the i7-3610QE hitting 4533 multicore and 639 single-core, while the i5-4570R trails at 3879 and 547, both at -14.4%.

The narrative flips entirely when examining Geekbench. Here, the Intel Core i5-4570R delivers a crushing counterpunch. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4570R scores 2872 versus the i7-3610QE's 1954, a massive +47% delta. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: 943 for the i5-4570R versus 560 for the i7-3610QE, a staggering +68.4% advantage. This is not a marginal victory; it is a generational leap in per-thread efficiency. The i7-3610QE wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, but its two losses are by such wide margins that they challenge the overall interpretation of which chip is truly "faster."

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split explains the benchmark divergence. The i5-4570R is built on the Haswell architecture, codenamed Crystal Well, while the i7-3610QE is from the older Ivy Bridge generation. Both are manufactured on the same 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry, but the similarities end there. The i5-4570R packs 1,700 million transistors on a 260 mm² die, while the i7-3610QE uses 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 160 mm² die. This 300-million-transistor and 100 mm² difference is substantial, reflecting the more advanced Haswell design.

Cache configurations also diverge significantly. The i7-3610QE offers 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4570R provides only 4 MB. This larger cache pool likely contributes to the i7's Cinebench lead in multi-threaded workloads. However, the i5-4570R counters with a superior integrated graphics solution: Intel Iris Pro 5200 versus the older Intel HD 4000 in the i7-3610QE. Memory support differs as well, with the i5-4570R explicitly supporting DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-3610QE's memory support and bandwidth are not specified in the data. Both chips feature dual-channel memory buses and lack ECC support.

The core configurations are the most telling difference. Both have 4 physical cores, but the i7-3610QE supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4570R is limited to 4 threads. This explains why the i7-3610QE excels in Cinebench's multi-core tests, which scale well with thread count. Clock speeds favor the i5-4570R at base (2.70 GHz versus 2.30 GHz), but the i7-3610QE has a higher boost clock (3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz). The i5-4570R is a desktop part on Intel BGA 1364, while the i7-3610QE is a mobile chip on Intel Socket G2 (988B), with a 65W TDP versus 45W respectively.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is clear from the data. The Intel Core i7-3610QE is the champion of sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 4533 versus 3879 for the i5-4570R indicates a meaningful advantage in tasks that can leverage its 8 threads. Content creation, video encoding, and 3D rendering applications that scale with thread count will consistently favor the i7-3610QE. The consistent 14-15% advantage across all Cinebench versions suggests this is not a workload-specific quirk but a fundamental throughput advantage.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-4570R dominates in single-threaded and latency-sensitive workloads, as evidenced by its Geekbench performance. The +68.4% single-core Geekbench lead over the i7-3610QE is enormous, suggesting the Haswell architecture's improved instruction handling and per-clock efficiency make it superior for everyday desktop responsiveness, legacy applications, and games that rely on single-core performance. The i5's higher base clock of 2.70 GHz versus 2.30 GHz likely contributes here, but the 68.4% gap far exceeds the 17% clock advantage, pointing to deep architectural improvements.

Interestingly, the i5-4570R's average benchmark score of 1318 slightly edges out the i7-3610QE's 1297, despite losing 6 of 8 head-to-head tests. This paradox is explained by the magnitude of the Geekbench wins. The i5's wins are so substantial that they outweigh its consistent but smaller Cinebench losses. Both chips sit at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3610QE is consistently ahead in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 4533 versus the i5-4570R's 3879, a 14.4% advantage. This is due to its 8 threads versus the i5's 4 threads.

Q: How does the i5-4570R achieve such a large Geekbench lead?

A: The i5-4570R scores 943 in Geekbench single-core versus 560 for the i7-3610QE, a 68.4% advantage. This likely stems from its newer Haswell architecture, which offers better per-clock instruction execution, despite the i7 having a slightly higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz.

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

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the i7-3610QE supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4570R is limited to 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4570R features Intel Iris Pro 5200, while the i7-3610QE has Intel HD 4000. The i5's graphics solution is more advanced, which may be relevant for systems relying on integrated output.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-3610QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4570R has 4 MB. This larger cache likely contributes to the i7's stronger Cinebench multi-core results.

Q: Are both CPUs from the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process node. However, the i5-4570R uses 1,700 million transistors on a 260 mm² die, while the i7-3610QE uses 1,400 million on a 160 mm² die.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every key specification. The i5-4570R has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i7-3610QE runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Thread counts differ: 4 threads for the i5-4570R versus 8 threads for the i7-3610QE. The i5-4570R has a 65W TDP, the i7-3610QE a 45W TDP. Sockets differ entirely: Intel BGA 1364 for the i5-4570R versus Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i7-3610QE.

Architecturally, the i5-4570R uses Haswell (Crystal Well) while the i7-3610QE uses Ivy Bridge. The i5-4570R has 1,700 million transistors on a 260 mm² die; the i7-3610QE has 1,400 million on 160 mm². L3 cache is 4 MB for the i5-4570R versus 6 MB for the i7-3610QE. Integrated graphics differ: Intel Iris Pro 5200 for the i5-4570R, Intel HD 4000 for the i7-3610QE. The i5-4570R supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth; the i7-3610QE's memory support and bandwidth are unspecified, though both use dual-channel buses. The i5-4570R offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-3610QE has no PCIe data specified. The i5-4570R is a desktop part, the i7-3610QE a mobile part. Release dates differ: the i5-4570R launched in 2013-06-01, the i7-3610QE on 2012-04-28.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct users. The Intel Core i7-3610QE is the choice for anyone prioritizing multi-threaded throughput. Its 8 threads and 6 MB of L3 cache deliver consistent 14-15% wins across all Cinebench versions, making it the stronger candidate for rendering, encoding, and other parallel workloads. Its lower 45W TDP also makes it attractive for thermally constrained mobile environments.

The Intel Core i5-4570R, despite losing the Cinebench battle, wins the war on single-core efficiency. Its Geekbench scores are nothing short of dominant, with a 68.4% single-core lead that suggests dramatically better per-thread performance. For general desktop use, legacy software, and games that favor fewer, faster cores, the i5-4570R is the superior part. Its higher base clock and newer Haswell architecture make it the more responsive everyday chip.

The overall average benchmark scores tell a nuanced story: 1318 for the i5-4570R versus 1297 for the i7-3610QE. The i5 edges ahead on average despite losing more individual tests, because its wins are so large. Both chips sit at the 35th percentile, indicating they are neither high-end nor entry-level in the broader CPU landscape. Users must choose based on workload profile: the i7-3610QE for heavy multi-threading, the i5-4570R for snappy single-threaded performance. The data does not declare an overall winner; it declares two specialists.