Quick Verdict
A 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.
Overview
Launch
2013
Status
DiscontinuedGeneration
4th Gen (Haswell)
Market
Desktop
The Intel Core i5-4570 is a launch-day Haswell quad-core desktop processor offering 3.2 GHz base and 3.6 GHz turbo clocks with HD 4600 integrated graphics, positioned as the mainstream workhorse of the 4th generation lineup.
The Intel Core i5-4570 was one of the first Haswell desktop processors to launch in June 2013, featuring four cores at 3.2 GHz base with a 3.6 GHz turbo boost.
With 6 MB of shared L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3-1600 support, and Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, it hit the sweet spot between price and performance for mainstream users. The 84W TDP was standard for the era, and the LGA 1150 socket provided a clear upgrade path within the Haswell and Devils Canyon lineup. Its TSX and TXT instruction support distinguished it from lower-tier i5 SKUs, offering enterprise-oriented security and transactional memory features that few desktop users ever leveraged.
While it delivered excellent value in 2013, the passage of time has rendered its four-thread design inadequate for modern gaming and productivity workloads.
Specifications
Performance
Handles basic office and web tasks well, but compilation times and heavy multitasking expose its limits.
VT-x and VT-d are present but four threads severely constrain any practical virtualization workload.
Competent with older titles and eSports games, but modern AAA titles expose the four-thread limitation severely.
84W TDP for this performance level is unremarkable; modern processors deliver 2-3x the performance at similar power.
- •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
- •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
Architecture
22nm
Process Node
Haswell
Codename
4C / 4T
Core Config
6 MB
L3 Cache
84 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Haswell architecture powering the i5-4570 was Intel's 4th generation Core design, built on the mature 22nm FinFET process. It represented a significant microarchitectural overhaul from Ivy Bridge, with widened execution ports, improved branch prediction, and enhanced vector processing capabilities through AVX2 and FMA3 instructions. The architecture introduced a fully integrated voltage regulator (FIVR) on the processor die, which consolidated multiple external voltage regulation stages into a single on-die component. This improved voltage delivery precision and reduced motherboard complexity, but also contributed to higher idle power draw since the FIVR itself consumed power regardless of load. The ring bus interconnect linking the four cores to the shared 6 MB L3 cache maintained low-latency communication, while the improved prefetchers and cache hierarchy reduced memory access penalties. Haswell also brought major improvements to the integrated graphics, with the HD 4600 featuring 20 execution units capable of basic compute tasks and hardware-accelerated video decode. The i5-4570's TSX support was notable but ultimately moot for most users, as the TSX implementation on early Haswell steppings contained an errata that led Intel to disable the feature via microcode update on many systems.
CPU Design
Four out-of-order execution cores with a 14-stage pipeline, each featuring three ALU ports, two AGU ports, and dedicated FPU with AVX2/FMA3 support. 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, connected via ring bus to 6 MB shared L3.
Memory Subsystem
Dual-channel DDR3-1600 controller integrated on-die with peak bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Supports up to 32 GB across two DIMM slots at 1.5V or 1.35V (DDR3L).
PCIe & I/O
16 PCIe 3.0 lanes directly from the CPU for GPU connectivity. Additional I/O lanes come from the Platform Controller Hub (PCH).
Overclocking
Locked multiplier at 32x. BCLK overclocking is possible but limited to 100-105 MHz on most motherboards due to coupled clock domains.
- AVX2 and FMA3 instruction support for doubled floating-point throughput
- HD 4600 integrated graphics replacing HD 4000
- FIVR for improved voltage regulation
- TSX instruction support for transactional memory
- Improved C-states for better idle power efficiency
Key Highlights
- 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
- 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
History
The Intel Core i5-4570 launched on June 2, 2013 as part of the inaugural Haswell desktop processor lineup, marking Intel's 4th generation Core architecture debut. It arrived alongside the i5-4670, i7-4770, and i7-4770K, representing the mid-range option in a stack that Intel hoped would entice Ivy Bridge owners to upgrade.</br></br>The Haswell launch itself was somewhat muted.
While the architecture delivered meaningful improvements in instruction set support (AVX2, FMA3) and integrated graphics capability, the performance gains over Ivy Bridge were modest at 5-10% in most workloads. Reviewers noted that the FIVR added idle power consumption, and the thermal interface material under the heatspreader remained a point of criticism, as it had been since Ivy Bridge.</br></br>Despite the lukewarm reception from enthusiasts, the i5-4570 became one of the best-selling desktop processors of 2013-2014.
System integrators favored it for pre-built desktops, and DIY builders appreciated its balance of price and capability. The processor's legacy is that of a workhorse that defined the mainstream desktop experience for millions of users during the height of the PC gaming renaissance.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- AVX2 and FMA3 instruction support for doubled floating-point throughput
- HD 4600 integrated graphics replacing HD 4000
- FIVR for improved voltage regulation
- TSX instruction support for transactional memory
- Improved C-states for better idle power efficiency
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Replacing a failed CPU in an existing LGA 1150 system where motherboard reuse is necessary
Avoid if…
- Building any new system
- Running modern games beyond eSports titles
- Doing any content creation work
- Needing modern security features like SGX
- Wanting power-efficient computing
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The i5-4570 was among the first desktop CPUs to ship with Intel's TSX (Transactional Synchronization Extensions), though the feature was later disabled via microcode on C0 stepping due to a rare but critical errata.
It was the most popular non-K Haswell i5 SKU among system integrators and OEMs for pre-built desktops in 2013-2014.
The FIVR (Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator) introduced with Haswell was praised for simplifying motherboard design but criticized for increasing idle power consumption by roughly 10W compared to Ivy Bridge.
At launch, Intel's Haswell presentation focused heavily on the improved integrated graphics, yet the HD 4600 was still insufficient for any serious gaming without a discrete GPU.
The i5-4570's part number SR14E was one of the earliest Haswell desktop dies produced at Intel's Fab 12 in Arizona.
Digital Foundry's 2013 benchmark analysis showed the i5-4570 was within 3% of the i5-4670 in gaming when both were paired with a GTX 770.
The Haswell architecture's AVX2 support made the i5-4570 surprisingly capable for scientific computing workloads that utilized 256-bit integer operations.
Intel's decision to include TXT (Trusted Execution Technology) on the i5-4570 was unusual for a non-vPro SKU, but it was likely a binning decision rather than a deliberate feature inclusion.
The processor was commonly bundled with ASUS and Gigabyte B85 motherboards in popular pre-built systems from HP and Lenovo.
Haswell's idle power consumption was higher than Ivy Bridge despite improvements under load, a quirk that puzzled reviewers until the FIVR's overhead was identified as the cause.
People Also Ask
Is the Core i5-4570 good for gaming?
It was great for gaming in 2013-2015, but modern games need more than four threads. It can still handle eSports titles at 1080p with a modest GPU, but AAA games will suffer.
What is the difference between i5-4570 and i5-4670?
The i5-4670 has a 200 MHz higher base clock (3.4 vs 3.2 GHz) and a 200 MHz higher turbo (3.8 vs 3.6 GHz), giving it roughly 5-8% better performance.
Does the i5-4570 support Windows 11?
No. Windows 11 requires an 8th Gen Intel processor or later. The i5-4570 is not supported.
Can the i5-4570 be overclocked?
Not meaningfully. The multiplier is locked, and base clock (BCLK) adjustments are limited to about 100-105 MHz on Haswell.
What GPU should I pair with i5-4570?
A GTX 1650, RX 6400, or GTX 1060 at most. Anything faster will be bottlenecked in most modern games at 1080p.
Does the i5-4570 have integrated graphics?
Yes, it includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics with a base frequency of 350 MHz and max dynamic frequency of 1150 MHz.
How much RAM does the i5-4570 support?
It supports up to 32 GB of DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration at speeds up to DDR3-1600.
What is the TDP of the i5-4570?
The rated TDP is 84 watts.
Is i5-4570 better than FX-8350?
For gaming and single-threaded workloads, yes, significantly. The FX-8350 has more threads but much weaker per-core performance.
Does the i5-4570 support NVMe boot?
Only through a chipset-based M.2 slot with UEFI support. The CPU itself does not have dedicated NVMe lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the max turbo frequency of the i5-4570?
3.6 GHz on single-core loads, reducing to 3.5 GHz on multi-core loads.
What cooling does the i5-4570 need?
The included Intel stock cooler is adequate. Any aftermarket tower cooler will keep temperatures well below limits.
Does the i5-4570 support AES-NI?
Yes, it supports AES-NI for hardware-accelerated encryption.
Can the i5-4570 run Windows 10?
Yes, Windows 10 is fully supported with all native drivers available.
What is the maximum case temperature for i5-4570?
72°C Tcase maximum.
Does the i5-4570 support VT-d?
Yes, it supports both VT-x and VT-d for virtualization and directed I/O.
What motherboards work with i5-4570?
Any LGA 1150 motherboard with Intel 8-series (H81, B85, H87, Z87) or 9-series (H97, Z97) chipsets.
What is the part number for i5-4570?
SR14E is the commonly listed part number.
Does the i5-4570 support dual monitors?
Yes, the HD 4600 graphics support up to three displays when the motherboard provides the necessary output ports.
Is the i5-4570 64-bit?
Yes, it supports Intel 64 (x86-64) architecture.