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Intel Core i5-3570

Intel Core i5-3570: Review and Relevance in 2025

Ivy Bridge Architecture, 4 Cores, and Budget Build – Who Is This Processor Suitable for Today?

Key Features: Architecture and Performance

The Intel Core i5-3570, released in 2012, stands as an example of a reliable solution for basic tasks. Its codename is Ivy Bridge, and it is manufactured using a 22 nm process, which at the time marked progress in energy efficiency compared to its predecessors (Sandy Bridge, 32 nm).

Key Specifications:

- 4 Cores/4 Threads (without Hyper-Threading);

- Base frequency – 3.4 GHz, Turbo Boost – 3.8 GHz;

- TDP – 77 W;

- Integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics 2500 (in the i5-3570K version – HD 4000);

- Support for PCIe 3.0 (up to 16 lanes).

Performance in 2025:

According to Geekbench 6, the processor scores 637 points in single-core and 1858 points in multi-core tests. This is sufficient for office tasks, web surfing, and older games, but it won't be enough for modern AAA titles.

Ivy Bridge Features:

- Improved energy efficiency;

- Support for Quick Sync technology for video encoding;

- Integration with PCIe 3.0 (doubled bandwidth compared to PCIe 2.0).

Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1155 Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket, compatible with chipsets from the 6x and 7x series:

- H61 – basic model without overclocking and minimal ports;

- B75 – supports USB 3.0 and SATA III;

- Z77 – top-tier chipset with overclocking capabilities (for K-series processors) and support for multiple GPUs.

Important: New motherboards for LGA 1155 have not been produced since 2014. In 2025, they can only be found on the secondary market (e.g., ASUS P8Z77-V or Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H). The cost of used boards ranges from $30 to $80, but they come without guarantees.

Supported Memory: DDR3 and Its Limitations

The Core i5-3570 works with DDR3 memory with a frequency of up to 1600 MHz (officially). The maximum volume is 32 GB, but actual capabilities depend on the motherboard.

Features:

- No support for DDR4/DDR5 – this is the main limitation for upgrades;

- To enhance system responsiveness, it is recommended to use dual-channel mode (2x8 GB);

- Latencies (timings) of 9-9-9-24 are an optimal choice.

Example: A pair of Kingston HyperX DDR3-1600 8 GB modules (about $25 each in 2025) will improve multitasking.

Power Supplies: Selection Recommendations

With a TDP of 77 W, the processor does not require a powerful PSU, but it is essential to consider other components:

- Minimum: 450 W (for a system with a GTX 1650 level GPU);

- Recommended: 500–550 W (with headroom for upgrades).

Selection Criteria:

- 80 Plus Bronze certification or higher (e.g., Corsair CX550);

- Semi-modular capacitors and overload protection;

- Modularity (for convenient cable management).

Tip: For a build without a discrete graphics card, a 300 W PSU will suffice (e.g., be quiet! Pure Power 11).

Pros and Cons of the Core i5-3570 in 2025

Pros:

1. Low Cost – used processors can be found for $15–25;

2. Energy Efficiency – suitable for low-power builds;

3. Reliability – a proven architecture over time.

Cons:

1. Outdated Platform – lacks support for NVMe, USB 3.1, DDR4;

2. Limited Upgrade Path – max upgrade for LGA 1155 is the Core i7-3770K;

3. Weak Integrated Graphics – HD 2500 cannot handle 4K video.

Usage Scenarios: Where Is the Processor Relevant?

1. Office PCs: Working with documents, Zoom conferences, browsers with multiple tabs.

2. Media Center: Playing FullHD video via HDMI (with the help of a discrete GPU).

3. Retro Gaming: Running games from the 2010s (e.g., Skyrim, GTA V on low settings).

4. Entry-Level Server: Hosting files or a website on Linux.

Real Experience: A Reddit user built a budget PC for studying on the i5-3570, adding a 240 GB SSD ($20) and a GTX 1050 Ti ($50 used). The system handles Photoshop and Overwatch on medium settings.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD FX-8350 (Piledriver):

- 8 Cores, but weak IPC – lags by 20% in single-threaded tasks;

- TDP 125 W – higher energy consumption;

- Used price – $25–35.

2. Intel Core i5-4570 (Haswell):

- More modern architecture (supports AVX2);

- Used price – $30–40;

- Performance in Geekbench 6: Single-Core – 720, Multi-Core – 2100.

Conclusion: The i5-3570 struggles against even budget modern processors (such as the Intel Celeron G6900 for $50), but it wins on the secondary market price front.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Look for models with a Z77 chipset for overclocking (if you acquired a K-version).

2. Memory: 16 GB DDR3-1600 is the optimal amount for Windows 10/11.

3. Storage: Make sure to install an SSD (e.g., Kingston A400 480 GB for $30).

4. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quieter operation, choose the DeepCool Gammaxx 400 ($20).

5. BIOS: Update the motherboard firmware to support new SSDs.

Warning: Avoid old PSUs from unknown brands – they can damage components.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the Core i5-3570 Suitable For?

This processor is a choice for those who:

- Are building a budget PC for $100–150;

- Are upgrading an old system on LGA 1155;

- Are looking for a solution for home media centers or office computers.

Why is it still relevant in 2025? Its low price, proven reliability, and sufficient performance for less demanding tasks make it an appealing option for budget-conscious users. However, for gaming and professional workloads, it's better to consider modern processors (like Intel Core i3-12100F or AMD Ryzen 5 5500).

If you are willing to deal with the limitations of an outdated platform, the Core i5-3570 can serve as the foundation for a practical build. But remember: such a system is a temporary solution, and upgrading it in the future is nearly impossible.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-3570

Code Name

Ivi Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.40 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1155

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

77 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 & 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 2500

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

637

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1858

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

816

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2708

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2047

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4953

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-5157U

728 +14.3%

Xeon E7-4809 v4

671 +5.3%

Core i5-3570

637

Core i5-3450S

597 -6.3%

Core i5-3380M

559 -12.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Athlon 240GE

2232 +20.1%

Core i7-5557U

2035 +9.5%

Core i5-3570

1858

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

1707 -8.1%

Core i5-4210U

1538 -17.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-3470

853 +4.5%

Xeon E3-1245

834 +2.2%

Core i5-3570

816

Xeon E5-2686 v3

800 -2%

Core i5-7400T

782 -4.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen 5 1500X

2989 +10.4%

Core i5-3550

2828 +4.4%

Core i5-3570

2708

Core i3-8100H

2590 -4.4%

Core i5-3570S

2439 -9.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon Platinum 8168

2096 +2.4%

Xeon Platinum 8160

2072 +1.2%

Core i5-3570

2047

Xeon E5-1620 v3

2017 -1.5%

Xeon D-2752TER

1990 -2.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-5675C

5546 +12%

Core i7-6822EQ

5241 +5.8%

Core i5-3570

4953

Core i5-3570S

4630 -6.5%

Core i7-2760QM

4392 -11.3%