Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Core i7-970 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent across every recorded test: the Intel Core i7-970 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, and by nearly the same margin each time. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-970 scores 562 against 478 for the i5-4670K, a 14.9% advantage. The single-core test in R15 shows a similar gap, with the i7-970 at 79 and the i5-4670K at 67, a 15.2% lead. This pattern holds through newer Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i7-970 posts 2342 versus 1995, a 14.8% delta. The single-core R20 result mirrors that exactly: 330 for the i7-970, 281 for the i5-4670K, again a 14.8% difference.

The R23 results continue the trend. The i7-970 reaches 5577 in multi-core, while the i5-4670K manages 4751, a 14.8% gap. In single-core R23, the scores are 787 and 670 respectively, a 14.9% delta. The consistency is striking: across all six tests, the i7-970 leads by between 14.8% and 15.2%. No test shows the i5-4670K ahead. The database records zero wins for the i5-4670K and six for the i7-970.

This near-uniform margin suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. It is not that one chip excels in certain tasks and falls behind in others; the i7-970 simply outperforms the i5-4670K across the board. The single-core advantage is particularly notable, as it indicates the i7-970's older architecture still delivers competitive per-thread performance. The gap does not shrink in single-threaded tests, which means the i7-970 is not merely winning on raw core count. It is also faster per core in these Cinebench workloads.

Looking at the broader database context, the i5-4670K sits at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1656. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2124 at 1658 (0.1% higher) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653 (0.2% lower). The i7-970, meanwhile, places at the 39th percentile, with an average score of 1613. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-10610U at 1611 (0.2% higher), followed by the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 at 1609 (0.3% higher). So while the i7-970 wins every head-to-head test against the i5-4670K, the two chips occupy nearly identical percentiles in the overall database, and their average scores differ by only 43 points.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-4670K is a Haswell-generation part, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Core i7-970 is a Westmere-generation part, codenamed Gulftown, built on a 32 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.47 GHz. The i7-970 therefore offers 50% more cores and three times the threads, but at lower clock speeds.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache tells a different story. The i5-4670K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-970 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, double the capacity. This larger cache likely helps the i7-970 sustain performance in multi-threaded workloads, especially given its older process node and lower clocks.

The i5-4670K uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform, while the i7-970 uses Intel Socket 1366. Memory support also diverges: both support DDR3, but the i5-4670K has a dual-channel memory bus, whereas the i7-970 has a triple-channel memory bus. This is a substantial difference in memory bandwidth potential, though the database does not record measured bandwidth figures. The i5-4670K supports PCIe Gen 3, while the i7-970 is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

Integrated graphics are present only on the i5-4670K, which includes Intel HD 4600. The i7-970 has no integrated graphics at all, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for display output. The i5-4670K also has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-970 does not, so the i5-4670K offers overclocking flexibility that the i7-970 lacks. The transistor counts are close: 1,400 million for the i5-4670K and 1,170 million for the i7-970, despite the i5-4670K having a smaller die size at 177 mm² versus 239 mm² for the i7-970. The i7-970 is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i5-4670K has no production status recorded. Their release dates are separated by nearly three years, with the i5-4670K launching in June 2013 and the i7-970 in July 2010.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-970 wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15, it scores 562 versus 478 for the i5-4670K. In R20, it scores 2342 versus 1995. In R23, it scores 5577 versus 4751. The advantage ranges from 14.8% to 14.9% across these three tests.

Q: Does the i5-4670K win in any single-core test?

A: No. The i7-970 also wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-970 scores 79 against 67 for the i5-4670K. In R20 single-core, the scores are 330 and 281. In R23 single-core, the scores are 787 and 670. The margins are 14.8% to 15.2%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall database percentile?

A: The i5-4670K is at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1656. The i7-970 is at the 39th percentile, with an average score of 1613. Despite the i7-970 winning every head-to-head test, the two chips sit within one percentile point of each other.

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

A: The i5-4670K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The i7-970 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i7-970 offers 50% more cores and three times the threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-970 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4670K has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: Do both processors support overclocking?

A: No. The i5-4670K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The i7-970 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The recorded data gives a clear answer on raw performance: the Intel Core i7-970 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4670K in every benchmark test in the database. The margin is consistent, around 15% across both single-core and multi-core workloads, across three generations of Cinebench. There is no workload category where the i5-4670K takes the lead. If the only criterion is benchmark score, the i7-970 is the stronger processor.

However, the broader database context complicates the picture. The i7-970 sits at the 39th percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-4670K sits at the 40th. Their average benchmark scores are 1613 and 1656 respectively, meaning the i5-4670K actually has a higher average score across all recorded benchmarks, even though it loses every head-to-head test. This suggests that the i5-4670K's overall profile, including its newer architecture and higher clocks, makes it competitive with the i7-970 in the wider landscape, even if the specific Cinebench tests favor the i7-970.

For a user prioritizing multi-threaded workloads, the i7-970's 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with 12 MB of L3 cache, make it the logical choice from the data. For a user prioritizing platform modernity, the i5-4670K offers several advantages: a 22 nm process versus 32 nm, PCIe Gen 3 versus Gen 2, integrated graphics, an unlocked multiplier, and a dual-channel memory bus that is simpler to populate. The i5-4670K also draws less power, with a TDP of 84 watts versus 130 watts for the i7-970, which has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

The i7-970 is end-of-life, while the i5-4670K has no production status recorded, which may indicate it remained available longer. For a new build, the i5-4670K's socket and feature set are more current. But the benchmark data is unambiguous: the i7-970 is faster in every measured test.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4670K | Intel Core i7-970 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 4 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 130 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Westmere |

| Codename | Haswell | Gulftown |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 239 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR14A | SLBVF |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2010-07-18 |

| Production Status | Not recorded | End-of-life |