Intel Core i5-4670R vs Intel Core i5-4670T Comparison

Both the Intel Core i5-4670R and the Intel Core i5-4670T are quad-core Haswell desktop processors released on the same date, but they are engineered for different priorities, as the benchmark data clearly separates them by a consistent margin across all tested workloads. The i5-4670R is the faster part in every single benchmark recorded, while the i5-4670T operates at a lower thermal envelope, making the choice between them a direct trade-off between raw performance and power efficiency.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4670R wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, taking all 6 wins against 0 for the i5-4670T. The performance gap is remarkably uniform, ranging from a 16.3% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core to a 16.7% lead in both Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core tests. This consistency suggests the i5-4670R is not merely faster in specific scenarios but holds a broad, general-purpose performance edge across rendering and CPU-intensive tasks.

For users prioritizing execution speed, the i5-4670R is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 1286 places it in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core i5-3570 at a delta of 0%. The i5-4670T, while also in the 35th percentile, has a slightly lower average score of 1271 and sits near the Intel Atom x7425E (delta -0.2%) and the Intel Core i5-4430S (delta -0.2%). The i5-4670R is effectively the higher-performing sibling, and the choice should be driven by whether that performance is worth the higher power draw.

The i5-4670T is the appropriate selection for builds where thermal output and energy consumption are the primary constraints. Its 45-watt TDP is significantly lower than the 65-watt TDP of the i5-4670R, and its lower base and boost clocks (2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz versus 3.00 GHz and 3.70 GHz) reflect that design goal. The data shows that this efficiency comes at a measurable cost: roughly 16% lower performance across all Cinebench tests. Users who need maximum throughput for CPU-bound workloads should not choose the i5-4670T. Conversely, users building a compact or thermally limited system where the i5-4670R's 65-watt envelope is prohibitive will find the i5-4670T to be the only viable option of the two.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental Haswell architecture, codenamed Haswell, and are built on Intel's 22 nm process node at the same foundry. They also share identical transistor counts (1,400 million) and die sizes (177 mm²), indicating they are derived from the same silicon design. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading, and both support DDR3 memory without ECC.

The critical architectural divergence lies in their cache configurations. The i5-4670R features 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4670T offers a larger 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This is notable because the i5-4670T, despite having more cache, still performs worse in every benchmark, indicating that its lower clock speeds outweigh the cache advantage. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) caches.

Clock speeds are the primary differentiator. The i5-4670R has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-4670T operates at a base of 2.30 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz. This 0.7 GHz difference in base clock and 0.4 GHz in boost clock directly explains the performance gap. Additionally, the i5-4670R has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-4670T's multiplier is locked, meaning the i5-4670R offers overclocking potential that the i5-4670T lacks.

The two chips also differ substantially in their integrated graphics and packaging. The i5-4670R includes Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics, a higher-tier iGPU, and uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket, indicating a surface-mounted design. The i5-4670T comes with the more modest Intel HD 4600 graphics and uses the standard Intel Socket 1150, which is a socketed, replaceable package. The i5-4670T also lists PCIe Gen 3 support and a dual-channel memory bus, while the i5-4670R does not specify these features in the data. The i5-4670T has a part number (SR14P), while the i5-4670R does not.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-4670R wins decisively in all performance-oriented scenarios. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 16.7% in Cinebench R15 (448 vs 384), by 16.5% in Cinebench R20 (1868 vs 1604), and by 16.4% in Cinebench R23 (4448 vs 3820). This makes it the superior choice for rendering, video encoding, and any application that scales across all four cores. Its lead in single-core tests is equally strong: 16.7% in R15 (63 vs 54), 16.4% in R20 (263 vs 226), and 16.3% in R23 (627 vs 539). This means the i5-4670R also excels in lightly-threaded tasks like general desktop responsiveness, legacy applications, and games that rely on one or two threads.

The i5-4670T has no benchmark wins. Its only advantages are qualitative: a lower TDP of 45 watts versus 65 watts, which makes it suitable for compact systems with limited cooling or small power supplies. It also offers a larger L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB), though this does not translate into any measured performance benefit in the available data. The i5-4670T's lock on the multiplier is a disadvantage for enthusiasts, but its lower power draw is its sole redeeming feature for efficiency-focused builds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster across the board?

A: The Intel Core i5-4670R wins all 6 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with margins ranging from 16.3% to 16.7% over the i5-4670T.

Q: Does the i5-4670T's larger 6 MB L3 cache help it compete?

A: No. Despite having 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i5-4670R's 4 MB, the i5-4670T loses every benchmark, indicating its lower clock speeds are the dominant factor.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two chips?

A: The i5-4670R has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i5-4670T has a TDP of 45 watts, making the i5-4670T the more power-efficient part.

Q: Can both processors be overclocked?

A: No. The i5-4670R has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-4670T's multiplier is locked, so only the i5-4670R supports overclocking.

Q: Do these chips use the same socket?

A: No. The i5-4670R uses Intel BGA 1364 (soldered), while the i5-4670T uses Intel Socket 1150 (socketed).

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4670R includes Intel Iris Pro 5200, which is a higher-tier integrated GPU compared to the Intel HD 4600 found in the i5-4670T.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a remarkably consistent pattern of dominance by the i5-4670R. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4670R scores 448 against the i5-4670T's 384, a delta of 16.7%. This is the largest multi-core margin in the comparison. The single-core R15 test repeats the exact same delta of 16.7%, with scores of 63 and 54 respectively. This suggests that the clock speed advantage of the i5-4670R scales equally well across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

Moving to newer test versions, the margins narrow slightly but remain significant. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-4670R posts 1868 versus 1604 for the i5-4670T, a 16.5% lead. The single-core R20 test shows 263 against 226, a 16.4% advantage. The trend continues with Cinebench R23, where the i5-4670R scores 4448 multi-core and 627 single-core, compared to 3820 and 539 for the i5-4670T, yielding deltas of 16.4% and 16.3% respectively.

The consistency of these margins is the key analytical takeaway. Across six different tests spanning three versions of Cinebench, the performance gap never deviates outside a narrow 16.3% to 16.7% range. This indicates that the two processors scale almost identically with workload intensity, and the i5-4670R's advantage is purely a function of its higher clock speeds rather than any architectural efficiency difference. The i5-4670T's larger cache does not close the gap, and its lower TDP does not translate into any competitive performance metric. In every measurable way, the i5-4670R is the superior processor, while the i5-4670T is the efficiency-focused alternative.