CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4670 vs Intel Core i7-4771
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-4670 is a launch-day Haswell quad-core desktop processor with 3.4 GHz base and 3.8 GHz turbo clocks, positioned as the premium locked i5 in the initial lineup with enterprise-class security features including vPro, TXT, and TSX support.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
The fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch, with 3.8 GHz turbo benefiting bursty office and development workloads.
Handles office tasks well but slow for modern rendering.
Gaming
The 3.8 GHz turbo provides the best single-threaded performance among launch Haswell i5s, helping in older games, but four threads remain a hard limit for modern titles.
Bottlenecks modern GPUs; okay for older titles.
Virtualization
vPro and VT-d features are excellent for IT management, but four threads limit practical virtualization workloads.
Can run basic VMs but limited by 4 cores.
Efficiency
84W TDP is the standard for the Haswell i5 lineup; the higher clocks do not come with a power penalty thanks to good binning.
84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 and FMA3 available for basic vector operations
- DDR3 bandwidth constrains any AI inference workload
- Not suitable for local AI applications
- No AI hardware
- Slow CPU inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.8 GHz turbo is the fastest among launch locked Haswell i5s
- Good for eSports and older AAA titles with a dedicated GPU
- Bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs in CPU-intensive titles
- No Hyper-Threading limits 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or RX 580 class GPUs
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs
- Suitable for older games
- Lacks modern security features
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with 3.8 GHz turbo
- vPro technology for enterprise IT management
- TXT and TSX for security and transactional memory
- Full instruction set including BMI1/BMI2 and F16C
- Strong single-threaded performance for its era
Cons
- vPro features unnecessary for most home users
- More expensive than i5-4570 with negligible gaming performance difference
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- Quickly superseded by Devils Canyon i5-4690
- TSX disabled on C0 stepping via microcode errata
Pros
- Matches 4770K stock performance
- 4 cores with Hyper-Threading
- Supports AVX2
- Includes VT-d
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- End-of-life platform
- No Windows 11 support
- High 84W TDP
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-4670
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
Devils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks on the same platform.
Compare head-to-headUnlocked multiplier for overclocking if you need more performance from the same generation.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern AM4 platform with DDR4 at similar used-market pricing.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
Modern six-core with twelve threads that dramatically outperforms the i5-4670 at lower power.
Skylake successor with DDR4 support, better efficiency, and a newer platform for similar cost.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i7-4771
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-8320Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4770Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4670Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop
Slightly faster drop-in upgrade for old boards.
Compare head-to-headModern budget CPU that vastly outperforms it.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Modern budget alternative.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
Best value modern gaming CPU.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Alt
Cheap and highly capable.
Our Verdict on Each
The fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with unique vPro and TXT enterprise features. A strong performer in its day, but quickly superseded by Devils Canyon and rendered obsolete by modern budget CPUs.
Best for: Repairing an enterprise desktop system that requires vPro features on LGA 1150
Read the full reviewA solid 2013 CPU that matches the 4770K in stock performance but lacks overclocking, making it obsolete today.
Best for: The Core i7-4771 is a processor that should only be encountered in legacy systems. If you already own a motherboard with this chip, it can still serve adequately for basic web browsing, office applications, and older games. However, it is not recommended for purchase today. The LGA 1150 platform is dead, meaning there is no upgrade path. Additionally, the lack of official Windows 11 support and high 84W TDP make it inefficient compared to modern budget processors. Avoid buying this CPU for new builds. It is best utilized by keeping existing hardware alive for light duties or retro gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-4670 or Intel Core i7-4771?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4670 comes out ahead with a score of 7.4/10. 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 i5-4670 or Intel Core i7-4771?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4670 leads with a gaming performance score of 52/100 among Intel Core i5-4670 and Intel Core i7-4771.
Do Intel Core i5-4670 and Intel Core i7-4771 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-4670: LGA 1150, Intel Core i7-4771: Intel Socket 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-4670 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-4670 (4,620). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.