Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Core i5-7300HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7300HQ and Intel Core i5-4570S are both 4-core, 4-thread processors, but they represent different eras and market segments of Intel's lineup. The 7300HQ is a mobile Kaby Lake-H part from 2017, while the 4570S is a desktop Haswell part from 2013. Benchmark data shows the 7300HQ holds a narrow but consistent lead in the majority of tests, securing 7 out of 8 head-to-head wins, with the 4570S claiming a single victory in Geekbench single-core. The average benchmark scores place the 7300HQ at 1448 (38th percentile) versus 1426 (37th percentile) for the 4570S, indicating they are closely matched overall despite their architectural generational gap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has a higher average benchmark score of 1448, compared to the Intel Core i5-4570S which scores 1426. This places the 7300HQ in the 38th percentile of all CPUs, while the 4570S sits in the 37th percentile.

Q: How large is the performance difference in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ scores 4316 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 1.4% higher than the 4256 score of the Intel Core i5-4570S. This is one of the smaller deltas between the two, yet it still favors the mobile chip.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-4570S outperform the 7300HQ?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1083, compared to the 1052 score of the 7300HQ. This represents a 2.9% advantage for the older desktop processor.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is manufactured on a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-4570S uses a larger 22 nm process. This is a key architectural difference that contributes to the 7300HQ's lower 45 W TDP versus the 65 W TDP of the 4570S.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the Intel Core i5-4570S supports only DDR3. Both utilize a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-7300HQ has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel Core i5-4570S has a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and a marginally higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of a split based on workload type. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is the consistent winner in multi-threaded and most single-threaded scenarios. It takes the top spot in all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) and also wins the Cinebench single-core tests. Its largest victory comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 3044 against the 4570S's 2945, a 3.4% margin—the biggest delta in the entire comparison. This suggests that for heavily threaded workloads like video rendering or 3D modeling, the mobile Kaby Lake chip holds a distinct edge.

The Intel Core i5-4570S has a narrower, more specific area of advantage. Its sole win is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1083 versus the 7300HQ's 1052, a 2.9% lead. This is notable because in the Cinebench single-core tests, the 7300HQ wins by a slim 1.2% to 1.7% margin. The Geekbench result flips the script, indicating that for certain integer or floating-point workloads that Geekbench emphasizes, the older Haswell architecture's higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz versus 2.50 GHz and 3.50 GHz) can still deliver a performance punch. For users running applications that are highly sensitive to single-thread latency on this specific benchmark, the 4570S is the better choice.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by four years of Intel architecture evolution. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is built on the Kaby Lake architecture (codename Kaby Lake-H) using a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². In contrast, the Intel Core i5-4570S is based on the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, with a larger die size of 177 mm² and a transistor count of 1,400 million. This generational leap explains the 7300HQ's significantly lower 45 W TDP despite having a lower base clock, as the smaller process node allows for greater power efficiency.

The integrated graphics also differ substantially. The 7300HQ features Intel HD Graphics 630, while the 4570S is equipped with Intel HD 4600. This represents a generational improvement in the GPU block, potentially offering better media playback and light gaming performance on the mobile chip. The memory controllers reflect their respective market positions: the 7300HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4, giving OEMs flexibility in mobile designs, while the 4570S is locked to DDR3 for desktop platforms. Additionally, the 7300HQ uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, a ball-grid array package for soldered mobile installation, whereas the 4570S uses the LGA 1150 socket, a land-grid array for socketed desktop CPUs. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have their multipliers locked.

Specification Differences

The core configuration is identical—4 cores, 4 threads, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache—but nearly everything else diverges. The most obvious difference is the market segment: the 7300HQ is a mobile processor, while the 4570S is a desktop part. This is reflected in their TDPs, with the 7300HQ rated at 45 W and the 4570S at 65 W. The clock speeds tell a nuanced story: the 4570S has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs. 2.50 GHz) and a slightly higher boost clock (3.60 GHz vs. 3.50 GHz), yet the 7300HQ still manages to win most benchmarks.

The process nodes are 14 nm for the 7300HQ and 22 nm for the 4570S, leading to the die size difference of 126 mm² versus 177 mm². Memory support differs as noted, with the 7300HQ accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the 4570S is DDR3-only. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the 7300HQ lists 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 4570S simply lists Gen 3 without a lane count. The integrated GPU is HD Graphics 630 for the 7300HQ and HD 4600 for the 4570S. The release dates are 2017-01-02 for the 7300HQ and 2013-06-01 for the 4570S. The 7300HQ has a launch MSRP of $250, while the 4570S lacks a listed launch price. Finally, the part numbers are SR32S for the 7300HQ and SR14J for the 4570S.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a pattern of narrow but consistent victories for the Intel Core i5-7300HQ across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7300HQ scores 434 against the 4570S's 428, a 1.4% win. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 61 versus 60, a 1.7% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 7300HQ scores 1812 in multi-core versus 1787 for the 4570S, again a 1.4% delta. In R20 single-core, the scores are 255 and 252, a 1.2% difference. The R23 multi-core test follows suit with 4316 versus 4256 (1.4% delta), and R23 single-core shows 609 versus 600 (1.5% delta). These margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 1.2% to 1.7%, suggesting a slight architectural efficiency advantage for Kaby Lake that offsets the 4570S's higher clock speeds.

The Geekbench results are where the comparison becomes interesting. In the multi-core test, the 7300HQ delivers its biggest win of the entire comparison: 3044 versus 2945, a 3.4% lead. This is more than double the margin seen in any Cinebench test, indicating that the 7300HQ's memory flexibility (DDR4 support) and newer architecture provide a more substantial advantage in certain multi-threaded workloads. However, in Geekbench single-core, the tables turn. The 4570S scores 1083 against the 7300HQ's 1052, a 2.9% victory. This is the only test where the older processor wins, and it does so by a margin larger than any of the 7300HQ's Cinebench wins. This suggests that for single-threaded tasks that align with Geekbench's specific workload mix, the 4570S's higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz can overcome the architectural deficit. The overall picture is one of near-parity, with the 7300HQ's average score of 1448 edging out the 4570S's 1426 by a slim margin, but the 4570S proving that raw clock speed still matters in the right context.