Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Core i7-3820 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570S and Intel Core i7-3820 are two desktop processors from different eras of Intel's lineup. The i5-4570S is a 65W Haswell part built on a 22 nm process, while the i7-3820 is a 130W Sandy Bridge-E chip on a 32 nm process. Despite their architectural differences, benchmark data places them as near-identical in overall performance, with the i7-3820 holding a 0.2% edge in average benchmark score (1424 vs 1426). This analysis breaks down the data to show where each processor excels and where they overlap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1426, while the Intel Core i7-3820 scores 1424. The difference is marginal, with the i7-3820 trailing by just 0.2%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 wins every multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-3820 scores 4923 against the i5-4570S's 4256, a 13.5% advantage. Similar margins appear in Cinebench R20 (2067 vs 1787) and R15 (496 vs 428).

Q: Which processor offers better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3820 leads in all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 695 versus 600 for the i5-4570S, a 13.7% difference. The i7-3820 also leads in Cinebench R20 (291 vs 252) and R15 (69 vs 60).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both processors have 4 physical cores. The Intel Core i5-4570S has 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3820 has 8 threads due to Hyper-Threading support. This thread advantage contributes to the i7-3820's multi-core wins.

Q: How does the memory architecture differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S uses dual-channel DDR3 memory, while the Intel Core i7-3820 uses quad-channel DDR3 memory with a rated bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-4570S does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure in the data.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-4570S includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-3820 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3820 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its victories span both multi-core and single-core workloads, with consistent margins around 13-14%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3820 scores 496 against 428 for the i5-4570S, a 13.7% lead. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core (2067 vs 1787, 13.5%) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4923 vs 4256, 13.5%). Single-core tests show similar gaps: Cinebench R15 single-core (69 vs 60, 13%), R20 single-core (291 vs 252, 13.4%), and R23 single-core (695 vs 600, 13.7%).

The Intel Core i5-4570S does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, its average benchmark score of 1426 is marginally higher than the i7-3820's 1424, meaning the overall dataset does not favor either processor decisively. The i5-4570S also carries a much lower TDP of 65W versus 130W for the i7-3820, which is not a performance metric but a power envelope consideration.

The i7-3820's thread advantage is the key differentiator. With 8 threads versus 4, it leverages parallel workloads effectively. The i5-4570S, despite its newer Haswell architecture, cannot overcome this thread deficit in the tested benchmarks. The i5-4570S's only relative strength appears in the aggregate average score, where it edges ahead by 2 points, a negligible margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Core i5-4570S uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-3820 uses the Sandy Bridge-E architecture, built on a 32 nm process with 1,270 million transistors on a much larger 294 mm² die. The process shrink gives the i5-4570S a density advantage, packing more transistors into a smaller area.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is notably different: the i5-4570S has 6 MB shared L3, while the i7-3820 has 10 MB shared L3. This 4 MB difference in L3 capacity benefits the i7-3820 in workloads that require larger working sets.

Memory support also diverges. Both use DDR3, but the i5-4570S runs dual-channel while the i7-3820 runs quad-channel with a rated 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-3820's memory controller provides higher theoretical bandwidth, which can benefit memory-intensive tasks. The i5-4570S lacks a listed memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe support differs as well. The i5-4570S supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-3820 supports PCIe Gen 2 with 40 lanes (CPU only). This means the i5-4570S offers a newer PCIe standard, while the i7-3820 offers more lanes for multi-GPU configurations, albeit on an older standard.

Integrated graphics is another major difference. The i5-4570S includes Intel HD 4600, while the i7-3820 has no integrated graphics. The i5-4570S also comes from the Haswell generation, which is newer than the Sandy Bridge-E generation of the i7-3820.

Specification Differences

The core count is identical at 4, but the thread count differs: the i5-4570S has 4 threads, and the i7-3820 has 8 threads. Base clocks differ, with the i7-3820 running at 3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz for the i5-4570S. Boost clocks also favor the i7-3820 at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The i5-4570S has a 65W TDP, while the i7-3820 has a 130W TDP, exactly double. This impacts cooling requirements and power consumption profiles.

Sockets are incompatible: the i5-4570S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-3820 uses Intel Socket 2011. The i7-3820's multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the i5-4570S's multiplier is locked. The i7-3820 is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-4570S has no listed production status.

Release dates show the i5-4570S launched on 2013-06-01, while the i7-3820 launched earlier on 2012-02-12. The i7-3820 has a launch MSRP of $305. The i5-4570S has no listed launch MSRP.

Memory bus width differs: the i5-4570S uses dual-channel, the i7-3820 uses quad-channel. The i7-3820 lists 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the i5-4570S lists none. Both share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes per core, but L3 differs as noted.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a consistent pattern: the i7-3820 outperforms the i5-4570S across every benchmark in the head-to-head set. The largest margin is a 13.7% win in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-3820 scores 496 against 428. The same 13.7% margin appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, with scores of 695 and 600 respectively.

Cinebench R20 results show similar gaps. In multi-core, the i7-3820 scores 2067 versus 1787 for the i5-4570S, a 13.5% lead. In single-core, the i7-3820 scores 291 versus 252, a 13.4% lead. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is stable across workload generations.

Cinebench R15 single-core shows the smallest margin at 13%, with the i7-3820 scoring 69 against 60. This is still a clear win, but slightly narrower than the multi-core margins. The i7-3820 also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 13.5%, scoring 4923 against 4256.

The i5-4570S's only statistical edge comes from its average benchmark score of 1426, which is 2 points higher than the i7-3820's 1424. This aggregate metric includes Geekbench results that are not part of the head-to-head set. The i5-4570S has Geekbench scores of 2945 multi-core and 1083 single-core, while the i7-3820 has no Geekbench data listed.

The percentile ranking for both processors is identical at 37, meaning they perform similarly relative to all CPUs in the database. The nearest rival data confirms this: the i7-3820 is the closest rival to the i5-4570S with a deltaPct of 0.2%, and the i5-4570S is the closest rival to the i7-3820 with a deltaPct of -0.2%.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core i7-3820 in benchmark performance. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons with margins between 13% and 13.7%. Users running multi-threaded applications will benefit from its 8 threads, which deliver consistent 13.5% advantages in Cinebench multi-core tests. Single-threaded workloads also favor the i7-3820, with 13-13.7% leads across all three Cinebench versions.

The i7-3820's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz contribute to its single-core wins. Its larger 10 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide additional advantages for data-intensive tasks. The unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which could extend its lead further.

The Intel Core i5-4570S is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1426 is marginally higher than the i7-3820's 1424, though this is within the noise of the dataset. Its 65W TDP makes it a more power-efficient choice, and the integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its PCIe Gen 3 support offers newer connectivity standards.

Buyers should choose the i7-3820 if performance is the sole criterion, particularly for threaded workloads or any application where the 13%+ margins matter. The i5-4570S is the better pick for systems prioritizing low power consumption, integrated graphics, or newer PCIe support, accepting slower benchmark scores in return. Both processors sit at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers in the broader market.

For those with existing Socket 2011 platforms, the i7-3820 is the obvious upgrade path. For Socket 1150 builders, the i5-4570S offers a balanced feature set. The data does not suggest a clear all-around winner, but for raw compute performance, the i7-3820 is the benchmark leader.