Intel Core i5-4670S

The Intel Core i5-4670S occupies a distinct position in the desktop CPU landscape: it is a 65-watt Haswell quad-core whose benchmark scores place it in a tight cluster of mid-range processors from both its own era and later generations. With an average benchmark score of 1528, it sits at the 39th percentile of all CPUs, meaning roughly six out of ten processors in the database outperform it, yet its balanced single-thread and multi-thread results keep it competitive for everyday desktop work and lighter gaming. The data shows a processor that was designed for efficiency without sacrificing the core count that defined mainstream performance in 2013.

How It Compares

Against the Intel Core i7-4710HQ, the i5-4670S is virtually tied, trailing by only 0.4% in average score. This is notable because the i7-4710HQ is a mobile quad-core with Hyper-Threading, yet the desktop i5's higher clock speeds offset the missing threads. The benchmark delta is negligible, indicating that for most real-world tasks, users would not perceive a difference between these two in raw throughput.

The Intel Core i7-8665U presents a closer comparison, with the i5-4670S leading by just 0.4%. The i7-8665U is a much newer low-power laptop chip, but its four cores and similar single-thread capabilities bring it to parity. The near-identical scores suggest the i5-4670S holds up surprisingly well against a processor released nearly six years later, largely due to the desktop chip's sustained clock behavior.

Versus the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2, the i5-4670S is 0.6% behind. The Xeon is a server-oriented part with more cores but lower clock speeds, and the benchmark results indicate that the i5's higher frequency per core compensates for its lower core count in these specific workloads. The gap is within measurement noise, placing them in the same performance class.

The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 also edges out the i5-4670S by 0.6%. This is a first-generation Ryzen quad-core, and the data shows that AMD's newer architecture does not dramatically outperform the older Haswell design in these aggregate benchmarks. The i5-4670S holds its own against a chip from a fundamentally different architecture generation, which speaks to the enduring relevance of its clock speed and IPC.

Power and Thermals

The i5-4670S is rated at a 65-watt TDP, which is a critical defining characteristic of this processor. This places it in a lower power tier than the standard 84-watt Haswell desktop parts, making it suitable for compact systems and smaller form factor builds where heat dissipation is a concern. The 22 nm process node helps achieve this efficiency, and the data implies that a modest air cooler is sufficient for stock operation. Benchmark results do not include thermal throttling metrics, but the power class suggests that sustained multi-core loads would be manageable with a standard tower cooler. The 65-watt envelope also means that this CPU is a reasonable choice for systems where the power supply is limited or where noise levels are a priority, as the lower heat output allows fans to spin at reduced speeds.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark suite reveals a consistent pattern: the i5-4670S delivers competitive single-thread performance while its multi-thread scores are constrained by the lack of Hyper-Threading. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 4459 and single-core score of 629 indicate a roughly 7-to-1 ratio, which is typical for a quad-core without SMT. The Geekbench scores paint a similar picture: 3300 multi-core and 1184 single-core.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the performance is tightly grouped. The i5-4670S is 0.4% behind the i7-4710HQ and 0.6% behind the Ryzen 3 1200 and Xeon E5-1428L v2, while being 0.4% ahead of the i7-8665U. These deltas are all under one percent, meaning that in practice, differences are negligible. However, the composition of these scores matters: the i5-4670S achieves parity with the i7-4710HQ despite having fewer threads, suggesting its per-core efficiency is superior. Similarly, matching the Ryzen 3 1200 shows that Haswell's architecture remains competitive for lightly threaded workloads. The Cinebench R20 scores of 1872 multi-core and 264 single-core reinforce this split, with the multi-core result being the weaker point due to the 4-thread limitation.

FAQ

Q: How does the i5-4670S compare to the Intel Core i7-4710HQ in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i5-4670S is 0.4% behind the i7-4710HQ in average benchmark score, despite having fewer threads. The desktop chip's higher clock speeds compensate for the missing Hyper-Threading in these tests.

Q: Is the i5-4670S suitable for a compact build?

A: Yes, the 65-watt TDP makes it a reasonable candidate for smaller systems. The 22 nm process and lower power envelope imply reduced heat output, which is advantageous in constrained chassis.

Q: What is the architectural generation of this processor?

A: It is based on the Haswell architecture, manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process node. It uses the Intel Socket 1150 platform.

Q: Does the i5-4670S support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The memory support is specified as DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the integrated graphics solution?

A: The processor includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. This provides a basic display output without requiring a discrete graphics card.

Q: How does the i5-4670S fare against the AMD Ryzen 3 1200?

A: The i5-4670S trails the Ryzen 3 1200 by 0.6% in average benchmark score. This is a minimal gap, indicating comparable overall performance in the tested workloads.

Who Should Consider It

For gaming, the i5-4670S is adequate for titles that rely primarily on single-thread performance. The Cinebench R15 single-core score of 63 and Geekbench single-core score of 1184 indicate strong per-core capability for its era, which translates to acceptable frame rates in older games or esports titles when paired with a modest discrete GPU. However, modern games that scale well across multiple threads will expose the 4-thread limitation, and the 39th percentile overall ranking suggests that newer budget processors would offer a smoother experience.

For content creation, this processor is a weaker choice. The multi-threaded Cinebench R23 score of 4459 is modest by current standards, and the absence of Hyper-Threading means rendering or video encoding tasks will take longer than on competing chips with more threads. The data shows that the i5-4670S is best suited for occasional, light creation work rather than professional or frequent use.

For office and productivity tasks, the i5-4670S remains a capable performer. Spreadsheets, web browsing, and document processing are largely single-threaded or lightly threaded, and the strong single-core scores handle these with ease. The 65-watt TDP also makes it an efficient choice for a dedicated office machine that runs for extended periods, where lower power draw translates to reduced heat and potentially lower electricity usage.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a clear split: single-thread performance is the i5-4670S's strength, while multi-thread performance lags. The Cinebench R23 scores show a single-core result of 629 and multi-core of 4459, a ratio that indicates linear scaling across four cores with no Hyper-Threading bonus. This is typical of a 4-core/4-thread design. Geekbench results mirror this: 1184 single-core and 3300 multi-core.

For real-world workloads, this means the i5-4670S excels at tasks that depend on a single fast core, such as legacy software, many older games, and general desktop responsiveness. The high clock speed of 3.80 GHz boost contributes to this. Conversely, workloads that can use all available threads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compiling, will not benefit from additional virtual cores, and the processor will perform at the level of its four physical cores. The delta between single and multi-thread performance is not extreme, but it is noticeable enough that users with heavily threaded workloads should look at processors with higher multi-core scores, even if they are slightly slower per core.

Platform and Compatibility

The i5-4670S uses the Intel Socket 1150, which was the mainstream desktop socket for the Haswell generation. This platform supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and the processor's memory controller is designed for that standard. The PCIe support is Gen 3, which provides sufficient bandwidth for graphics cards and NVMe storage adapters from the same era, though modern high-end GPUs may not be fully utilized due to the older platform's limitations.

The integrated graphics is Intel HD 4600, which is suitable for basic display output but not for gaming beyond very light titles. The processor does not support ECC memory, so it is not intended for server or workstation use where error correction is required. The 22 nm process node and 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die size are part of the Haswell design, and the processor was released in June 2013.

In terms of upgrade path, the LGA 1150 socket offers limited options. Users could move to a higher-tier Haswell processor, but the platform does not support newer architectures like Broadwell or later generations without a motherboard change. The i5-4670S is a locked processor, meaning the multiplier is not unlocked for overclocking. This means users are limited to the standard 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost clocks, and performance tuning is restricted to adjusting the base clock or memory settings, which offers limited headroom. The platform overall is dated, and the data suggests that while the processor remains functional for basic tasks, it is not a forward-looking investment for modern software demands.