CPU Comparison

Intel Core i5-3475S vs Intel Core i5-3570S

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3475S is a 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge desktop processor featuring Intel HD 4000 graphics, offering better GPU performance than the HD 2500-equipped i5-3470S in the same power envelope.

Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3475S
4C / 4T3.6 GHz65 W
5.2
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core i5
Intel Core i5-3570S
4C / 4T3.8 GHz65 W
6
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Desktop
Desktop
Segment
Desktop Low Power
Desktop
Generation
3rd Gen (Ivy Bridge)
3rd Generation (Ivy Bridge)
Launched
2012
2012
Status
End-of-life
Discontinued
Codename
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Series
Core i5
Core i5
Family
3rd Generation (Ivy Bridge)
Ivy Bridge
Predecessor
Intel Core i5-2405S (Sandy Bridge)
Intel Core i5-2500S
Successor
Intel Core i5-4570R (Haswell)
Intel Core i5-4570S

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
4
4
Threads
4
4
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
3.1 GHz
Boost Clock
3.6 GHz
3.8 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
6 MB
6 MB
TDP
65 W
65 W
Architecture
Architecture
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge
Process Node
22nm
22nm
Memory
Memory Type
DDR3
DDR3
Memory Speed
DDR3-1600
DDR3-1600
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
32 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
LGA 1155
Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155)
PCIe Version
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
16
16
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core i5-3475S24

Same CPU performance as the i5-3470S — adequate for basic office work but limited by today's standards.

Intel Core i5-3570SBest60

Handles office suites and multitasking well enough for basic use.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3475S19

HD 4000 provides noticeably better gaming capability than HD 2500 but is still insufficient for modern titles.

Intel Core i5-3570SBest35

Quad cores are okay for old games, but single-thread speed is too low today.

Virtualization

Intel Core i5-3475S14

Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.

Intel Core i5-3570SBest40

Can run a basic VM, but lacks Hyper-Threading.

Efficiency

Intel Core i5-3475S40

The 65W TDP balances power efficiency with the additional GPU capability, reasonable for 2012.

Intel Core i5-3570SBest75

Good efficiency for a 22nm desktop chip.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core i5-3475SNot Supported
  • No AI acceleration hardware
  • Not applicable for this processor generation
  • Insufficient compute for AI workloads
Intel Core i5-3570SNone
  • No AI hardware
  • Too slow for modern inference

Content Creation

Intel Core i5-3475SPoor
Basic Photoshop editingHD video playbackLight photo management
Intel Core i5-3570SFair
Basic Photo Editing1080p Video Editing

Gaming

Intel Core i5-3475SPoor
  • HD 4000 with 16 EUs is the best integrated GPU in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
  • Can handle older games like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 at low settings
  • GPU shares system memory bandwidth, limiting performance
  • Modern gaming still requires a discrete GPU
Intel Core i5-3570SPoor
  • Needs a dedicated GPU
  • Low single-thread performance by modern standards
  • Not recommended for modern AAA games

Industry Impact

Gaming
None
Low
Workstations
None
Low
Content Creation
Low
Low
Virtualization
None
Low

Best CPU by Use Case

Office Productivity
Adequate
Very Good
Media Consumption
Good
Light Casual Gaming
Poor
Small Form Factor PC
Good
HD Video Playback
Good
Web Browsing
Good
Media Playback
Excellent
Modern Gaming
Poor
Video Editing
Fair

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Developers
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core i5-3475S

Pros

  • HD 4000 graphics — best IGP in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
  • 65W TDP for power-efficient operation
  • 16 Execution Units provide double the GPU compute of HD 2500
  • Same 3.6 GHz turbo boost as other i5-3470 variants
  • Full 6MB L3 cache

Cons

  • HD 4000 still weak by modern standards
  • No Hyper-Threading limits CPU multi-threading
  • End-of-life LGA 1155 platform
  • No Windows 11 support
  • Rare and hard to find on the used market
  • DDR3 memory is obsolete
Intel Core i5-3570S

Pros

  • Good 65W TDP
  • True 4 physical cores
  • Reliable for basic office tasks
  • Socketed design

Cons

  • Low clock speeds compared to modern chips
  • Obsolete DDR3 memory
  • No Hyper-Threading
  • Weak integrated graphics

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core i5-3475S

Intel Core i5-3570S

Our Verdict on Each

The i5-3475S stands out as the only 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge i5 with HD 4000 graphics, but its outdated platform still makes it unsuitable for modern builds.

Best for: Maintaining an existing system that relies on integrated graphics without a discrete GPU

Read the full review

A well-balanced 65W quad-core that was a staple in pre-built office PCs, but is too slow for modern demanding workloads.

Best for: For modern users, the Core i5-3570S holds very little value outside of maintaining an older system. If you have a functioning LGA 1155 motherboard and need a cheap processor to keep an office machine or media center running, this chip is adequate. Its quad-core design still handles basic web browsing and document editing reasonably well. However, it struggles significantly with modern gaming and heavy multitasking. It should never be purchased for a new build, as its platform lacks support for modern I/O like NVMe booting (on most older boards), USB 3.1 Gen 2, and DDR4 memory. If you find one used for a few dollars, it might be worth it to revive an old PC. Otherwise, save your money for a modern entry-level processor.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core i5-3475S or Intel Core i5-3570S?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3570S comes out ahead with a score of 6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.

Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-3475S or Intel Core i5-3570S?

For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3570S leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Intel Core i5-3475S and Intel Core i5-3570S.

Do Intel Core i5-3475S and Intel Core i5-3570S use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3475S: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-3570S: Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Intel Core i5-3475S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3475S (6,800), Intel Core i5-3570S (6,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.