CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3570 vs Intel Core i5-7600K
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.
Snappy for daily tasks but fails in multi-threaded rendering.
Gaming
Great for games from 2012-2015, but bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily.
High clocks help older games, but 4 threads cause severe stuttering in modern titles.
Virtualization
Basic VM capability, but limited by 4 threads.
Poor for VMs due to lack of threads.
Efficiency
Good for 2012, but outdated by modern standards.
91W TDP increases significantly when overclocked.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Unsuitable for modern AI workloads
- No AI hardware
- Unusable for modern 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
- Overclocking to 5GHz doesn't fix stuttering caused by 4 threads
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily
- Only suitable for retro or eSports titles
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
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking
- High 4.2 GHz turbo boost
- Can easily hit 5.0 GHz with good cooling
- Strong single-thread performance
- Fun chip for legacy enthusiast builds
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Severely bottlenecks modern games
- No official Windows 11 support
- 91W TDP gets hot when overclocked
- Quickly replaced by 6-core i5-8600K
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 i5-7600K
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1500XRival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-6600KRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i7-7700KRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Desktop
Successor with 6 cores, offering much better modern performance.
Compare head-to-headThe locked version if you don't plan to overclock.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
A modern budget CPU that vastly outperforms it.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
A vastly superior modern CPU for a similar used price.
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 fun chip for overclocking, but its 4-core/4-thread design makes it obsolete for modern gaming and productivity workloads.
Best for: Buying a used chip for a legacy LGA 1151 retro gaming rig or overclocking experimentation.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3570 or Intel Core i5-7600K?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3570 comes out ahead with a score of 6.5/10. 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 i5-7600K?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-7600K leads with a gaming performance score of 55/100 among Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-7600K.
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 i5-7600K (91 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-7600K use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3570: Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155), Intel Core i5-7600K: Intel Socket 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-7600K posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3570 (6,200), Intel Core i5-7600K (6,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.