CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4570TE and Intel Pentium G4600 are both dual-core, four-thread desktop processors, yet benchmark results show a consistent and decisive performance gap. Across every shared Cinebench test, the Pentium G4600 finishes ahead, with the i5-4570TE trailing by roughly 12.6% to 12.7% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The data points to a clear hierarchy: the newer Pentium delivers superior compute performance in every measurable category, despite the i5's higher-tier branding and older Haswell architecture.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Pentium G4600 is the stronger performer in every test where both processors appear. The head-to-head results show the Pentium winning all five Cinebench comparisons, with no benchmark victories for the i5-4570TE. In multi-core tests, the Pentium scores 309 in Cinebench R15 versus 270 for the i5, a 12.6% advantage. That lead persists in Cinebench R20 (1289 vs 1126) and R23 (3070 vs 2681). Single-core results tell the same story: the Pentium leads by 12.7% in both R20 (181 vs 158) and R23 (433 vs 378).

The average benchmark scores confirm the pattern, though the margin narrows. The i5-4570TE averages 1062 across its benchmark suite, while the Pentium averages 1056, a difference of only 0.6%. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier. However, the head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Pentium G4600 is the better choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute throughput.

The i5-4570TE does have one notable advantage: a 35W TDP compared to the Pentium's 51W. For power-sensitive builds, the i5 draws significantly less energy, though it sacrifices roughly 12% performance in every Cinebench test to achieve that efficiency. The Verdict is simple: the Pentium G4600 wins on performance, while the i5-4570TE wins on power efficiency. Users needing maximum compute should choose the Pentium; those prioritizing lower power draw may prefer the i5.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural eras from Intel. The i5-4570TE is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the Pentium G4600 uses the newer Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm node. This generational gap explains much of the performance difference, Kaby Lake's design improvements and smaller transistor size deliver higher instructions per clock and better efficiency.

The i5-4570TE features 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, while the Pentium's transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. The i5 also carries a larger L3 cache at 4 MB shared, compared to 3 MB shared on the Pentium. Both processors have identical L1 and L2 cache configurations: 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively. Despite having less L3 cache, the Pentium still outperforms the i5 in every benchmark, suggesting architectural efficiency matters more than raw cache capacity.

Memory support differs significantly. The i5-4570TE supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory, while the Pentium G4600 supports DDR4 and offers a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5's memory bandwidth is not specified, but the DDR4 standard on the Pentium provides a more modern memory interface. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3, though the Pentium specifically lists 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 simply states Gen 3 without lane details.

Integrated graphics also differ: the i5 includes Intel HD 4600, while the Pentium features Intel HD 630. The newer HD 630 graphics on the Pentium align with its Kaby Lake generation. The i5 was released in June 2013, while the Pentium launched in January 2017, nearly four years later. The Pentium remains in active production, while the i5's production status is not listed. Both processors are socket-incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1151.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a perfectly consistent pattern: the Pentium G4600 wins all five comparisons by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium scores 309 against the i5's 270, a 12.6% advantage. This test reflects sustained multi-threaded rendering performance, where the Pentium's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz (versus 2.70 GHz on the i5) likely plays a decisive role, the i5's boost clock reaches 3.30 GHz, still below the Pentium's sustained base frequency.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the same 12.6% gap: 1289 for the Pentium versus 1126 for the i5. Moving to R23 multi-core, the scores are 3070 and 2681 respectively, again a 12.7% difference. These multi-core results are particularly telling because both chips have identical core and thread counts (2 cores, 4 threads), so the performance gap stems entirely from architectural and clock-speed advantages rather than parallel resource availability.

Single-core benchmarks reveal an equally consistent edge. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium scores 181 versus 158 for the i5, a 12.7% lead. The R23 single-core test shows 433 versus 378, also 12.7%. Single-core performance is critical for everyday tasks and lightly-threaded applications, and the Pentium's advantage here is just as pronounced as in multi-core workloads. This uniformity across all tests, with deltas ranging only from 12.6% to 12.7%, suggests the performance difference is structural, likely driven by the combination of higher clock speeds and newer architecture.

The i5-4570TE's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Opteron 4376 HE (0.1% faster), the Intel Core i5-2380P (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i3-4360 (0.1% faster), and the Intel Xeon W3580 (0.2% slower). The Pentium G4600's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-2760QM (0.1% faster), AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (0.2% faster), Intel Core i3-4350 (0.2% faster), and AMD FX-8320E (0.3% faster). These rival clusters reinforce that both chips sit in a similar overall performance neighborhood, even though the head-to-head comparison favors the Pentium.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The most obvious difference is base clock speed: the i5-4570TE runs at 2.70 GHz, while the Pentium G4600 runs at 3.60 GHz, a 0.9 GHz advantage for the Pentium. The i5 includes a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the Pentium has no listed boost clock, meaning its 3.60 GHz is its maximum sustained frequency.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the i5-4570TE has a 35W TDP, while the Pentium G4600 draws 51W. This 16W difference makes the i5 significantly more power-efficient, which is notable given its older architecture. The socket is another major split: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1151, making them incompatible with the same motherboards.

Process node and architecture follow the generational divide: the i5 is built on 22 nm Haswell, while the Pentium uses 14 nm Kaby Lake. The i5 lists 1,400 million transistors and a 177 mm² die size; the Pentium does not list these figures. L3 cache differs, with the i5 offering 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared on the Pentium. Memory support also diverges: the i5 uses DDR3, while the Pentium uses DDR4 and lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the i5's bandwidth is not specified.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4600 on the i5 versus Intel HD 630 on the Pentium. Release dates are nearly four years apart, June 2013 for the i5 and January 2017 for the Pentium. The Pentium is listed as active in production, while the i5's production status is not specified. Both processors have unlocked multipliers set to false, both lack ECC memory support, and both are desktop market segment parts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 309 vs 270 in R15, 1289 vs 1126 in R20, and 3070 vs 2681 in R23, with a consistent 12.6–12.7% advantage over the i5-4570TE.

Q: Does the i5-4570TE have any performance advantage?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows zero wins for the i5-4570TE across all five Cinebench tests. The Pentium G4600 wins every comparison.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The i5-4570TE has a 35W TDP, while the Pentium G4600 has a 51W TDP. The i5 consumes 16W less, making it the more power-efficient choice despite its lower performance.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: No. The i5-4570TE uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Pentium G4600 uses Intel Socket 1151. They require different motherboards and are not interchangeable.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i5-4570TE supports DDR3 memory, while the Pentium G4600 supports DDR4 and lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: How close are their overall benchmark averages?

A: The i5-4570TE has an average benchmark score of 1062, while the Pentium G4600 averages 1056. The Pentium is 0.6% lower on average, despite winning every head-to-head test, because the averages include different benchmark suites.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium G4600 wins in every benchmark category where direct comparison data exists. Multi-core rendering workloads show the Pentium ahead by 12.6% in Cinebench R15 and R20, and by 12.7% in R23. These tests simulate content-creation tasks like 3D rendering and video encoding, where the Pentium's higher clock speed and newer architecture deliver measurable gains. Single-core performance, which matters for everyday responsiveness, office applications, and lightly-threaded games, also favors the Pentium by 12.7% in both Cinebench R20 and R23.

The i5-4570TE's only clear win comes in power efficiency. Its 35W TDP versus the Pentium's 51W represents a 31% reduction in thermal design power. For compact desktop builds, small-form-factor systems, or always-on machines where heat and energy draw are primary concerns, the i5's lower power consumption could be a deciding factor, even at the cost of roughly 12% performance. The i5 also offers a larger 4 MB L3 cache versus 3 MB on the Pentium, though this does not translate into benchmark wins.

The i5-4570TE sits at the 29th percentile among all CPUs, matching the Pentium's 29th percentile exactly. Their nearest rivals also occupy similar performance space: the i5's closest competitors include the Core i3-4360 and Core i5-2380P, while the Pentium's include the Core i3-4350 and Core i7-2760QM. This suggests both chips belong to the same general performance class, but the head-to-head data shows the Pentium consistently at the top of that class. For users building on Socket 1151 with DDR4 memory, the Pentium G4600 is the clear performance choice. For those with Socket 1150 platforms or strict power budgets, the i5-4570TE remains a viable, more efficient alternative despite its slower compute results.