CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3330S vs Intel Core i5-3570S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3330S is a 3rd generation Ivy Bridge quad-core desktop processor with a 65W TDP, featuring Intel HD Graphics 2500 for budget and small form factor PCs.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
4 cores handle basic office tasks well, but the lack of threads and older IPC limits heavy multitasking.
Handles office suites and multitasking well enough for basic use.
Gaming
The HD 2500 graphics are extremely weak; a dedicated GPU is required for any form of gaming.
Quad cores are okay for old games, but single-thread speed is too low today.
Virtualization
Can run a couple of light VMs with VT-d support, but limited by 4 threads.
Can run a basic VM, but lacks Hyper-Threading.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP and 22nm process provide excellent efficiency for a desktop chip of its era.
Good efficiency for a 22nm desktop chip.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware support
- Aging architecture makes AI inference very slow
- No AI hardware
- Too slow for modern inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 2500 graphics are only suitable for 2D applications
- Requires a discrete GPU for any 3D gaming
- Older architecture limits performance with modern GPUs
- Needs a dedicated GPU
- Low single-thread performance by modern standards
- Not recommended for modern AAA games
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Low 65W TDP for cool and quiet operation
- True quad-core design for basic multitasking
- Uses the ubiquitous LGA 1155 socket
- Supports PCIe 3.0
Cons
- Weak HD 2500 integrated graphics
- No Hyper-Threading
- End-of-life and outdated
- Locked multiplier
- DDR3 memory only
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 i5-3330S
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-3450Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-5600KRival
Desktop APU
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop
A newer Haswell generation low-power CPU if upgrading within a similar tier.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
A budget modern alternative with vastly superior Vega integrated graphics.
A modern budget quad-core that obliterates this chip in every metric.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
A modern APU that offers incredible integrated graphics and CPU performance.
A budget modern CPU that offers 6 cores and 12 threads for cheap.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-3570S
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-3450SRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2500SRival
Desktop
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop
Vastly superior single-core and modern platform.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500Alt
Cheap 6-core processor for budget builds.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Modern 6-core with excellent price/performance.
- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget quad-core alternative.
- Intel Pentium G7400Alt
Modern dual-core for basic needs.
Our Verdict on Each
A reliable low-power quad-core for its time, good for basic desktop tasks, but severely lacking in graphical and multi-threaded performance today.
Best for: Reviving an old office PC for basic web browsing or as a home NAS server.
Read the full reviewA 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 reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-3330S or Intel Core i5-3570S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3570S leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Intel Core i5-3330S and Intel Core i5-3570S.
Do Intel Core i5-3330S and Intel Core i5-3570S use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3330S: Intel Socket 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 i5-3570S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3570S (6,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.