Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Core i7-3770K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a fascinating split, one that defies simple generational expectations. The Intel Core i7-3770K, despite being the older architecture, dominates the Cinebench suite with a remarkably consistent margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-3770K wins decisively, with deltas hovering tightly between 16.4% and 16.7%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-3770K scores 5542 against the i5-4670K's 4751, a 16.6% lead. The single-core R23 result tells the same story: 782 versus 670, a 16.7% advantage. This consistency is striking; it suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The R15 multi-core test shows 558 versus 478 (16.7%), and even the older R15 single-core test shows a 16.4% gap (78 versus 67). The i7-3770K also leads in R20 multi-core with 2327 against 1995 (16.6%) and R20 single-core with 328 versus 281 (16.7%).

However, the Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. Here, the i5-4670K is the clear winner, and by even larger margins. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4670K scores 3700 against the i7-3770K's 3027, a 18.2% advantage for the newer chip. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided: 1302 versus 860, a 33.9% lead for the i5-4670K. This is a dramatic divergence. The i7-3770K wins six of the eight head-to-head tests, but the i5-4670K wins the two Geekbench tests by such wide margins that the overall picture becomes nuanced. The data suggests these two processors excel under different benchmark methodologies, and the "winner" depends entirely on which workload is being simulated.

Where Each One Wins

The Cinebench victories for the Intel Core i7-3770K point toward scenarios where sustained multi-threaded rendering and CPU-bound creative work take priority. Cinebench is a realistic 3D rendering workload, and the i7-3770K's consistent 16.7% lead in multi-core and single-core Cinebench tests indicates it renders frames faster. The i7-3770K also wins in Cinebench's single-core tests, which is curious given the i5-4670K's higher Geekbench single-core score. This suggests the i7-3770K's architectural efficiency in this specific rendering context is superior, despite the i5-4670K being a newer design. The i7-3770K is the pick for video rendering, 3D modeling, and any task that scales with Cinebench-like workloads.

The Intel Core i5-4670K wins in Geekbench, which measures a broader set of everyday and synthetic tasks, including memory access patterns, integer and floating-point operations, and various encryption and compression algorithms. The i5-4670K's 33.9% lead in Geekbench single-core is substantial, indicating superior performance in single-threaded applications that Geekbench models. Its 18.2% lead in Geekbench multi-core also shows strong scaling in that test's specific threading model. So, for general-purpose desktop responsiveness, legacy single-threaded software, and tasks that mirror Geekbench's mixed workload, the i5-4670K is the data-backed winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770K has an average benchmark score of 1688, while the Intel Core i5-4670K has an average score of 1656. Both sit at the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the i7-3770K always beat the i5-4670K in multi-core tests?

A: No, not always. The i7-3770K wins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests by roughly 16.7%. However, in Geekbench multi-core, the i5-4670K wins with a score of 3700 versus 3027, an 18.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the better single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The i7-3770K wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) by about 16.4-16.7%. The i5-4670K wins Geekbench single-core by a 33.9% margin (1302 versus 860).

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770K wins 6 out of 8 benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-4670K wins the remaining 2 benchmarks.

Q: Is the i5-4670K's Geekbench lead large enough to compensate for its Cinebench losses?

A: The data shows a clear trade-off. The i5-4670K's 33.9% win in Geekbench single-core is the largest margin of any test, but it only applies to that one suite. The i7-3770K's wins are consistent across six tests, each with a roughly 16.7% margin.

Q: Which processor is more efficient according to the data?

A: The i7-3770K has a TDP of 77 watts, while the i5-4670K has a TDP of 84 watts. The i7-3770K also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.40 GHz) and boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz).

Specification Differences

The two processors are built for different sockets: the Intel Core i7-3770K uses Intel Socket 1155, while the Intel Core i5-4670K uses Intel Socket 1150. This alone makes them incompatible with the same motherboards. The i7-3770K has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i5-4670K has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i7-3770K has a TDP of 77 watts, which is lower than the i5-4670K's 84 watts. The i7-3770K supports 8 threads, while the i5-4670K supports only 4 threads. The i7-3770K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4670K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-3770K features the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, whereas the i5-4670K features the newer Intel HD 4600. The i7-3770K has a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i5-4670K's memory bandwidth is not recorded. The i7-3770K has a launch MSRP of $313; the i5-4670K has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-3770K is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, while the Intel Core i5-4670K is built on the Haswell architecture. Both use a 22 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel. Both have 1,400 million transistors, but the i7-3770K has a die size of 160 mm², while the i5-4670K has a larger die size of 177 mm². The i7-3770K is a 4-core processor with 8 threads, indicating Hyper-Threading support. The i5-4670K is also a 4-core processor but has only 4 threads, meaning it lacks Hyper-Threading. The i7-3770K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, versus 6 MB on the i5-4670K. Both have the same L1 cache (64 KB per core) and L2 cache (256 KB per core). Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory and do not support ECC memory. The i7-3770K's PCIe is listed as "Gen 3, 16 Lanes(CPU only)", while the i5-4670K's PCIe is simply "Gen 3". The i5-4670K is a newer release, with a release date of June 1, 2013, while the i7-3770K was released on April 28, 2012. The i7-3770K is at end-of-life production status, while the i5-4670K's status is not recorded. Both have an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, if counterintuitive, choice. If the priority is Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel Core i7-3770K is the definitive winner. It consistently beats the i5-4670K by about 16.7% across all six Cinebench tests, including single-core. This is a decisive margin. The i7-3770K also has a lower TDP and a higher clock speed, making it the more efficient choice. The i5-4670K, however, is the clear winner in Geekbench, especially in single-core where it leads by 33.9%. For users whose software environment resembles Geekbench's mix of everyday tasks, the i5-4670K is the superior performer.

The overall average benchmark score favors the i7-3770K (1688 versus 1656), but both sit in the same 40th percentile of all CPUs. The i7-3770K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-5850HQ and AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, while the i5-4670K's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2124 and AMD Ryzen 5 3550H. The i7-3770K's 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache are clear architectural advantages for multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. The i5-4670K's higher Geekbench numbers suggest its Haswell architecture handles Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point tests more efficiently.

In practice, a user should review their own workload. The i7-3770K is the choice for anything similar to Cinebench's 3D rendering, where its lead is consistent and significant. The i5-4670K is the choice for general-use scenarios that align with Geekbench. The data does not show a single overall winner; it shows two distinct profiles. The i7-3770K has six wins, the i5-4670K has two, but those two wins are large enough to make the i5-4670K the better choice for its preferred workloads. One should also note that the i7-3770K is the older processor, released in 2012, while the i5-4670K is from 2013, yet the i7-3770K's higher thread count and cache size give it the edge in rendering. The i5-4670K's Geekbench dominance is real and well-measured. The verdict is a split decision, grounded in the benchmark data.