CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3570 vs Intel Core i5-4570
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3570 is a standard quad-core desktop processor launched in June 2012 as part of the Ivy Bridge family. Built on a 22 nm process, it features four physical cores and four threads, omitting Hyper-Threading. It operates at a base clock of 3.4 GHz and can turbo boost up to 3.8 GHz. With a 77 W TDP, it strikes a balance between power consumption and performance. It includes 6 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD 2500 graphics. The i5-3570 was a highly popular choice for mid-range gaming rigs and productivity desktops during its era, offering excellent price-to-performance value. While its multiplier is locked, it supports PCIe 3.0 and dual-channel DDR3 memory. Though now end-of-life, it remains a capable chip for basic legacy computing, retro gaming, and as a drop-in upgrade for older LGA 1155 systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles office apps fine, but struggles with heavy modern web scripts.
Handles basic office and web tasks well, but compilation times and heavy multitasking expose its limits.
Gaming
Great for games from 2012-2015, but bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily.
Competent with older titles and eSports games, but modern AAA titles expose the four-thread limitation severely.
Virtualization
Basic VM capability, but limited by 4 threads.
VT-x and VT-d are present but four threads severely constrain any practical virtualization workload.
Efficiency
Good for 2012, but outdated by modern standards.
84W TDP for this performance level is unremarkable; modern processors deliver 2-3x the performance at similar power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Unsuitable for modern AI workloads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 available but insufficient for meaningful inference
- DDR3 bandwidth too low for AI workloads
- Not suitable for any local AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU
- Single-core performance is too low for modern AAA titles
- PCIe 3.0 support helps with GPU compatibility
- Capable with eSports titles like CS:GO and Dota 2
- Bottlenecks mid-range and above modern GPUs
- DDR3 memory limits performance in open-world games
- No Hyper-Threading reduces 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or slower for balanced performance
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- True 4 physical cores
- Supports PCIe 3.0
- Low price on used market
- Good for legacy system repairs
Cons
- Obsolete 22nm process
- Locked multiplier
- Weak HD 2500 integrated graphics
- Uses DDR3 memory
Pros
- Was excellent value at launch for mainstream users
- TSX and TXT support uncommon in this price segment
- Good turbo boost delta of 400 MHz
- Wide compatibility with H81 through Z97 chipsets
- Low used-market pricing makes it viable for repairs
Cons
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier eliminates overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- No longer receives security microcode updates
- TSX was disabled on most systems due to errata
- Significantly outperformed by modern i3 processors
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-3570
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3550Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-3450Rival
Desktop
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop
Vastly superior modern quad-core with hyper-threading.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Excellent value used hex-core.
Slightly faster Haswell alternative for the same socket.
Compare head-to-headCheaper Sandy Bridge alternative if overclocking is desired.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget modern alternative.
Intel Core i5-4570
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4340Rival
Budget Desktop
Slightly higher clocks at similar pricing, providing a small but free performance uplift.
Compare head-to-headHigher base and turbo clocks for users needing maximum performance on LGA 1150.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern DDR4 platform at similar used-market pricing.
Modern budget CPU that significantly outperforms the i5-4570 in single-threaded tasks.
Compare head-to-headDevils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A legendary processor for its time that still handles basic tasks, but is completely outclassed by modern budget CPUs.
Best for: The Core i5-3570 is obsolete and should not be considered for a new build. However, if you are repairing or upgrading an older LGA 1155 system, it is an excellent, cheap drop-in part. It still handles basic web browsing and document editing adequately, provided you use lightweight software and an SSD. For retro gaming, when paired with a dedicated GPU from the same era (like a GTX 660 or 750 Ti), it can run games from the early 2010s flawlessly. It is also a solid choice for a basic home server. Do not spend much money on this chip, as modern budget processors offer vastly superior performance-per-watt. If you already have the motherboard, it's a great salvage build; otherwise, look elsewhere.
Read the full reviewA solid mid-range performer that was the go-to recommendation for mainstream PC builders in 2013-2014, but its four-thread limitation and DDR3 platform make it impractical for modern workloads.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in an existing LGA 1150 system where motherboard reuse is necessary
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3570 or Intel Core i5-4570?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4570 comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. 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 i5-3570 or Intel Core i5-4570?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4570 leads with a gaming performance score of 48/100 among Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-4570.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3570 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3570 (77 W), Intel Core i5-4570 (84 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-4570 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3570: Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155), Intel Core i5-4570: LGA 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3570 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3570 (6,200), Intel Core i5-4570 (4,310). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.