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

The Intel Core i5-4670S and Intel Core i7-3770S present a classic generational clash, pitting a newer mid-range design against an older flagship. The benchmark data reveals a split decision that hinges entirely on the workload, with Cinebench favoring the older i7 and Geekbench favoring the newer i5. This analysis walks through the exact numbers to show where each processor excels and why.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Geekbench divergence. The i5-4670S posts a multicore score of 3300 against the i7-3770S’s 2220, a 48.6% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 1184 versus 655, a massive 80.8% lead for the Haswell part. These deltas are the largest in the entire comparison and suggest that the i5-4670S has a fundamental efficiency edge in this particular test suite.

Cinebench tells the opposite story. Across all three versions of the test, the i7-3770S wins every round. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 scores 529 versus 448, a 15.3% margin. Single-core R15 shows 74 versus 63, a 14.9% gap. The R20 results are nearly identical in proportion: 2205 against 1870 for multicore (15.2% delta) and 311 against 263 for single-core (15.4% delta). R23 repeats the pattern with 5251 versus 4454 (15.2%) and 741 versus 628 (15.2%). The consistency is remarkable—every Cinebench delta falls between 14.9% and 15.4%, indicating a stable performance differential that does not vary with workload intensity.

The overall win tally is 6 for the i7-3770S and 2 for the i5-4670S. However, the average benchmark scores tell a nuanced story. The i5-4670S has an average score of 1526, while the i7-3770S sits at 1498. The i5 also holds a slight edge in percentile ranking, sitting at the 38th percentile versus the i7’s 38th percentile—statistically identical in the overall distribution. The i5’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-7440HQ with an average score of 1527 and a delta of 0%, indicating the i5-4670S is essentially tied with a much newer mobile part. The i7-3770S’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-8100T at 1500, a delta of -0.1%, placing it on par with a modern budget desktop chip.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations. The i5-4670S uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the i7-3770S uses the older Ivy Bridge design, also on 22 nm. Both are manufactured by Intel and both pack 1,400 million transistors, though the die sizes differ slightly: 177 mm² for Haswell versus 160 mm² for Ivy Bridge. This means the newer architecture packs the same transistor count into a larger physical area, likely reflecting a more complex core design.

The core counts are identical at four physical cores, but the threading capability diverges. The i5-4670S supports 4 threads, while the i7-3770S supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading. This is the single most important architectural difference for multithreaded workloads. The cache hierarchies also differ: both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the i5 versus 8 MB on the i7. The larger L3 on the i7 likely contributes to its Cinebench dominance, as those tests are known to benefit from additional cache.

The i5-4670S uses the Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-3770S uses the older Socket 1155. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. Both run PCIe Gen 3, though the i7 specification notes 16 lanes limited to the CPU, while the i5 simply lists Gen 3. The integrated graphics differ: the i5 features Intel HD 4600, while the i7 has Intel HD 4000. The base clocks are identical at 3.10 GHz, but the boost clocks differ—3.80 GHz for the i5 versus 3.90 GHz for the i7. Both have a 65 W TDP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770S has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4670S has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Why does the i5-4670S win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The i5-4670S scores 3300 in Geekbench multicore versus 2220 for the i7-3770S, a 48.6% advantage. In single-core, the i5 scores 1184 versus 655, an 80.8% lead. The newer Haswell architecture appears to handle Geekbench’s workload patterns far more efficiently.

Q: Does the i7-3770S win every Cinebench test?

A: Yes. The i7-3770S wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, each in both multicore and single-core). The deltas range from 14.9% to 15.4% in favor of the i7.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i5-4670S has an average benchmark score of 1526, while the i7-3770S has an average score of 1498. This puts the i5 slightly ahead overall despite losing the majority of individual tests.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The i5-4670S uses Intel Socket 1150, while the i7-3770S uses Intel Socket 1155. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Do both processors have the same TDP?

A: Yes, both the i5-4670S and the i7-3770S have a TDP of 65 W. They also share a 22 nm process node and 1,400 million transistors.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The most significant is thread count: the i5-4670S has 4 threads, while the i7-3770S has 8. The L3 cache also differs, with 6 MB on the i5 versus 8 MB on the i7. The boost clock is higher on the i7 at 3.90 GHz, compared to 3.80 GHz on the i5; base clocks are identical at 3.10 GHz.

The socket is different: Socket 1150 for the i5, Socket 1155 for the i7. The architecture and codename are Haswell for the i5 and Ivy Bridge for the i7. The die size is 177 mm² for the i5 and 160 mm² for the i7. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 4600 on the i5 and Intel HD 4000 on the i7. The part numbers are SR14K for the i5 and SR0PN for the i7. Release dates differ: the i5 launched on 2013-06-01, while the i7 launched on 2012-04-28. The PCIe specification is listed as "Gen 3" for the i5 and "Gen 3, 16 Lanes(CPU only)" for the i7.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3770S is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads. Its 8-thread capability and 8 MB of L3 cache give it a consistent 15% advantage across all versions of the test. This makes it the better choice for rendering tasks that scale with thread count and cache size, as represented by the Cinebench suite. The higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz also contributes to its single-core Cinebench wins.

The i5-4670S wins decisively in Geekbench. The 80.8% single-core advantage and 48.6% multicore advantage suggest that Haswell’s improved instruction handling and memory subsystem far outweigh the i7’s extra threads in this specific test. The i5 also has a slightly higher average benchmark score (1526 versus 1498), indicating greater overall consistency. Its newer integrated graphics (HD 4600 versus HD 4000) provide a qualitative edge for basic display tasks, though no benchmark data is provided for GPU performance.

For general productivity and legacy software that does not heavily utilize multithreading, the i5-4670S’s architectural improvements give it a significant edge. For heavily threaded workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, the i7-3770S’s extra threads and larger cache make it the stronger performer. The i5’s performance in Geekbench is so dominant that it nearly doubles the i7’s single-core score, which could indicate better responsiveness in single-threaded applications.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. The Intel Core i7-3770S is the better choice for users running Cinebench-style multithreaded rendering workloads, where it maintains a consistent 15% lead over the i5-4670S. Its 8 threads and 8 MB of L3 cache provide tangible benefits that the newer architecture cannot overcome in these tests.

The Intel Core i5-4670S is the better choice for Geekbench-style workloads and general single-threaded performance. Its 80.8% single-core advantage is overwhelming, and its 48.6% multicore lead in Geekbench shows that thread count is not always decisive. The i5 also posts a higher average benchmark score (1526 versus 1498), suggesting better overall balance despite losing six of eight head-to-head tests.

For a user prioritizing modern application responsiveness and single-thread performance, the i5-4670S is the superior part. For a user running heavily threaded legacy workloads that resemble Cinebench, the i7-3770S retains a meaningful advantage. The percentile rankings are identical at 38, indicating both are mid-range performers in the broader CPU landscape. The choice ultimately depends on which benchmark suite best represents the intended use case—the i7 for its consistent Cinebench dominance, or the i5 for its explosive Geekbench results.