Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Core i7-4712HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4712HQ and the Intel Core i5-4570S represent two distinct interpretations of the Haswell architecture: one is a low-power mobile processor, the other a mid-range desktop chip. While both share the same fundamental 22 nm design, their benchmark results reveal a fascinating split, with the mobile i7 dominating in Cinebench tests while the desktop i5 claims victory in Geekbench. The data presents a nuanced picture where the choice between them depends heavily on the specific workload, despite the i7's higher core count and thread count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the complete divergence between the two benchmark suites. In the Cinebench family of tests, the Intel Core i7-4712HQ wins all six rounds, while the Intel Core i5-4570S takes both Geekbench tests. This is not a marginal difference; the margins are consistent and revealing. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-4712HQ scores 454 against the i5-4570S's 428, a 6.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with the i7 leading 64 to 60, a 6.7% gap. This pattern holds across every Cinebench iteration: R20 multicore shows 1895 vs 1787 (6% delta), and R23 multicore shows 4512 vs 4256 (6% delta). The single-core variants are equally consistent, with R20 at 267 vs 252 and R23 at 637 vs 600, both showing roughly 6% leads for the i7-4712HQ.

The Geekbench results, however, flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-4570S scores 2945 against the i7-4712HQ's 2734, a 7.2% advantage for the desktop chip. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: the i5-4570S scores 1083 versus 923, a commanding 14.8% lead. This is a substantial margin that suggests the i5-4570S has a significant single-thread performance advantage in certain workloads, despite its lower thread count. The i7-4712HQ's higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz compared to the i5's 3.60 GHz may partially explain this, but the 14.8% delta in Geekbench single-core is larger than the 0.30 GHz clock difference would typically suggest.

What makes this data particularly interesting is the consistency within each suite. The Cinebench tests show the i7-4712HQ winning by nearly the same percentage across all versions, suggesting a stable architectural advantage in those workloads. Similarly, the Geekbench tests show the i5-4570S winning by a consistent margin in both single and multi-core tests. The overall win count favors the i7-4712HQ at 6 wins versus 2 for the i5-4570S, but the magnitude of the i5's Geekbench victories, particularly the 14.8% single-core margin, cannot be dismissed. When looking at the average benchmark scores, the two processors are remarkably close: the i7-4712HQ averages 1436 while the i5-4570S averages 1426. This places them both at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, with the i7-4712HQ's nearest rivals being the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G (delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i7-2600K (delta 0.2%), while the i5-4570S sits near the Intel Core i7-3820 (delta 0.2%) and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 (delta 0.3%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests overall?

A: The Intel Core i7-4712HQ wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-4570S wins 2. All six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multicore) go to the i7-4712HQ, while both Geekbench tests go to the i5-4570S.

Q: How large is the i7-4712HQ's advantage in Cinebench tests?

A: The i7-4712HQ leads by approximately 6% across all Cinebench tests. The exact margins are 6.1% in R15 multicore, 6.7% in R15 single-core, 6% in R20 multicore, 6% in R20 single-core, 6% in R23 multicore, and 6.2% in R23 single-core.

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

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-4570S leads by 14.8%, scoring 1083 versus 923 for the i7-4712HQ. The second-largest gap is also in Geekbench multicore, where the i5 leads by 7.2% with a score of 2945 versus 2734.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-4712HQ has an average benchmark score of 1436, while the i5-4570S averages 1426. This difference of 10 points is less than 1%, and both processors sit at the 37th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors have the same transistor count and die size?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-4712HQ and the Intel Core i5-4570S are built on the same 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die size. They also share identical L1 and L2 cache configurations.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor based on average score?

A: The i7-4712HQ's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with a delta of -0.2%, followed by the Intel Core i7-2600K at 0.2%. The i5-4570S's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-3820 at 0.2% and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 0.3%.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Haswell architecture, using the same 22 nm process node and manufactured by Intel. The transistor count is identical at 1,400 million, and the die size is the same 177 mm². The cache hierarchy is also identical: 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both use DDR3 memory with dual-channel memory buses.

The fundamental architectural difference lies in the core and thread configuration. The i7-4712HQ has 4 cores and 8 threads, leveraging Hyper-Threading technology, while the i5-4570S has 4 cores and 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading. This explains the i7's consistent lead in Cinebench multicore tests, which are known to scale well with additional threads. The i7-4712HQ's base clock of 2.30 GHz is significantly lower than the i5-4570S's 2.90 GHz, and its boost clock of 3.30 GHz is also lower than the i5's 3.60 GHz. This clock speed disadvantage likely contributes to the i5's Geekbench single-core victory.

The memory bandwidth figures differ, with the i7-4712HQ rated at 25.6 GB/s while the i5-4570S has no listed memory bandwidth. Both processors use the Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The PCIe support differs slightly: the i7-4712HQ lists "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" while the i5-4570S simply lists "Gen 3" without specifying lane count. The sockets are completely different, with the i7-4712HQ using Intel BGA 1364 (a mobile socket) and the i5-4570S using Intel Socket 1150 (a desktop socket).

Power consumption is another major differentiator. The i7-4712HQ has a TDP of 37 watts, making it a low-power mobile part, while the i5-4570S has a TDP of 65 watts, typical for a desktop processor. The market segments reflect this: the i7-4712HQ is classified as Mobile, while the i5-4570S is Desktop. The i7-4712HQ was released on 2014-03-31, while the i5-4570S came earlier on 2013-06-01. The i7-4712HQ is marked as End-of-life in production status, while the i5-4570S has no listed production status.

The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a clear story of workload-dependent performance. The Intel Core i7-4712HQ is the superior choice for multithreaded applications that resemble Cinebench workloads, where its 8 threads provide a consistent 6% advantage over the i5-4570S across all test versions. The i7-4712HQ also wins the Cinebench single-core tests, which is surprising given its lower clock speeds, suggesting that Hyper-Threading or other architectural factors benefit these specific workloads.

However, the Intel Core i5-4570S is the clear winner in Geekbench tests, particularly in single-core performance where its 14.8% lead is decisive. The i5's higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz vs 2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz) likely drive this advantage. For users whose primary applications resemble Geekbench workloads, the i5-4570S would deliver notably better performance.

The average benchmark scores place them nearly equal, with the i7-4712HQ at 1436 and the i5-4570S at 1426, both at the 37th percentile. The i7-4712HQ's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G, is virtually tied at 1439 (-0.2% delta), while the i5-4570S's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-3820, sits at 1424 (0.2% delta). This suggests that in overall performance, neither processor has a decisive advantage, and the choice should be driven by the specific application profile. The i7-4712HQ's lower TDP of 37 watts versus 65 watts for the i5-4570S also makes it more suitable for power-constrained environments, though this comes at the cost of the mobile BGA 1364 socket versus the more flexible desktop Socket 1150.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i7-4712HQ has 8 threads compared to the i5-4570S's 4 threads, a direct result of Hyper-Threading support. The base clocks differ significantly: 2.30 GHz for the i7-4712HQ versus 2.90 GHz for the i5-4570S. The boost clocks also differ, with the i7-4712HQ reaching 3.30 GHz and the i5-4570S reaching 3.60 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: 37 watts for the i7-4712HQ versus 65 watts for the i5-4570S.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1364 for the i7-4712HQ and Intel Socket 1150 for the i5-4570S. The market segments differ, with the i7-4712HQ classified as Mobile and the i5-4570S as Desktop. The memory bandwidth is listed as 25.6 GB/s for the i7-4712HQ, while the i5-4570S has no listed memory bandwidth. The PCIe support also differs, with the i7-4712HQ specifying "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)" versus simply "Gen 3" for the i5-4570S.

The release dates are different: 2014-03-31 for the i7-4712HQ and 2013-06-01 for the i5-4570S. The i7-4712HQ has a launch MSRP of $378, while the i5-4570S has no listed launch MSRP. The production status differs, with the i7-4712HQ marked as End-of-life and the i5-4570S having no listed status. The part numbers also differ: SR1PZ for the i7-4712HQ and SR14J for the i5-4570S.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4712HQ wins in all Cinebench tests, which typically represent rendering, video encoding, and other content creation workloads. Its 8 threads provide a clear advantage in multicore tests, with a consistent 6% lead across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The i7-4712HQ also wins Cinebench single-core tests by approximately 6%, despite its lower clock speeds. This makes it the better choice for multithreaded productivity applications that scale with thread count. Its 37-watt TDP also makes it suitable for compact or power-sensitive systems, though the BGA 1364 socket limits upgradeability.

The Intel Core i5-4570S wins in both Geekbench tests, which are more representative of general-purpose computing, web browsing, and office applications. Its 14.8% single-core advantage in Geekbench is substantial and suggests that applications relying heavily on single-thread performance would run noticeably faster on this chip. The i5-4570S's higher clock speeds of 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost contribute to this advantage. The desktop Socket 1150 offers more flexibility for system builders, and the 65-watt TDP, while higher, is typical for desktop platforms.

The overall win count favors the i7-4712HQ at 6 wins versus 2, but the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1436 vs 1426). Users seeking maximum performance in Cinebench-style workloads should choose the i7-4712HQ, while those prioritizing Geekbench-style performance, particularly single-core, should select the i5-4570S. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the 8-thread advantage or the higher clock speeds matter more for the intended applications.