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Intel Core i5-3570K

Intel Core i5-3570K: Review and Relevance in 2025

(For those who value budget and reliability)

1. Key Specifications: Ivy Bridge Architecture and Its Potential

The Intel Core i5-3570K processor, released in 2012, remains an iconic model for enthusiasts. Its Ivy Bridge architecture (22 nm) represented an evolution of Sandy Bridge: improved energy efficiency, support for PCIe 3.0, and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip.

- Cores and Threads: 4 cores/4 threads (no Hyper-Threading).

- Base/Turbo Clock Frequency: 3.4 GHz / 3.8 GHz.

- TDP: 77 W.

- Cache: 6 MB L3.

- Graphics: HD Graphics 4000 (650–1150 MHz).

Key Features:

- Unlocked Multiplier — overclocking capability (when paired with Z77 chipset).

- DirectX 11 Support — relevant for less demanding games.

- Intel Quick Sync Video Technology — video encoding acceleration.

Performance in 2025:

According to Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 702 points (comparable to Pentium G6405 from 2020).

- Multi-Core: 2039 points (close to Ryzen 3 2200G).

Real-World Experience:

- In office tasks (browser, Word), the processor operates without delays.

- In games from 2012-2015 (e.g., GTA V, Skyrim), it achieves 60+ fps when using a discrete graphics card like the GTX 1060.

2. Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1155 Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket. Compatible chipsets include:

- Z77 — for overclocking (ASUS P8Z77-V, MSI Z77A-G45).

- H77/B75 — basic features (no overclocking).

Selection Considerations in 2025:

- Newer boards are no longer being produced — look for used ones on eBay or AliExpress (price: $30–$70).

- Check the condition of VRM modules (overheating can reduce stability).

- Ensure the presence of USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbit/s (important for SSDs).

Practical Example:

The ASRock Z77 Extreme4 motherboard remains popular among overclockers — it enables the i5-3570K to be overclocked to 4.2–4.5 GHz with adequate cooling.

3. Supported Memory: Only DDR3

The processor works with DDR3-1600 (officially). In practice, it supports modules up to 2400 MHz (depending on the motherboard).

Recommendations:

- Optimal capacity: 16 GB (2×8 GB).

- Latencies: CL9–CL11.

- Important: DDR4/DDR5 are not compatible!

Configuration Example:

Kingston HyperX Fury 16 GB kit (1600 MHz, CL10) — price for new modules (rare!) — $50–$70.

4. Power Supplies: Minimum 450 W

With a TDP of 77 W, the processor does not demand much from the PSU, but it's important to consider other components:

- Without a discrete graphics card: a 300 W PSU will suffice (e.g., be quiet! SFX Power 3 300W).

- With a GTX 1660 level graphics card: a PSU in the 450–550 W range (Corsair CX450, EVGA 500 BQ).

Advice:

Avoid cheap noname PSUs — they can damage components.

5. Pros and Cons of i5-3570K in 2025

Pros:

- Price: Used — $20–$40 (cheaper than Ryzen 3 1200).

- Overclocking Potential: Up to 4.5 GHz with a good cooler.

- Reliability: Many units have been operating for over 10 years.

Cons:

- Outdated Architecture: No AVX2, PCIe 4.0, no support for Windows 11.

- Limited Multithreading: 4 threads are weak for rendering tasks.

- Low IPC: Falls behind even budget Ryzen 5000.

6. Usage Scenarios

- Office and Web Browsing: Ideal with an SSD and 16 GB of RAM.

- Retro Gaming: Games up to 2017 (e.g., The Witcher 3 on medium settings).

- Media Center: Connects to TV via HDMI, streams 1080p video.

Real Case:

A user built an HTPC with an i5-3570K + GTX 1050 Ti — the system handles Netflix 4K and PS2 emulators well.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD FX-8350 (2012):

- Pros: 8 cores.

- Cons: High TDP (125 W), weak Single-Core performance (Geekbench 6: ~450).

- Intel Core i5-2500K (2011):

- Cheaper by 10–15%, but lower performance (Geekbench 6 Multi-Core: ~1800).

- Ryzen 3 2200G (2018):

- Better IPC, support for DDR4, but more expensive ($80–$100 used).

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- SSD is essential: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will speed up the system.

- Graphics Card: GTX 1650 or RX 570 (no additional power required).

- Cooling: Arctic Freezer 34 ($30) for overclocking.

- Be cautious with Windows: It's better to install Windows 10 LTSC (support until 2029).

Warning:

New graphics cards (RTX 40xx, RX 7000) are incompatible due to PCIe 3.0 and lack of Resizable BAR.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the i5-3570K For?

- Budget Users: Building a PC for $150–$200 (processor + motherboard + RAM).

- Owners of Old Systems: Upgrade without replacing the motherboard.

- Enthusiast Overclockers: Experimenting with overclocking.

Why is it still relevant in 2025?

Affordability, proven reliability, and sufficient power for basic tasks. However, for modern games and software, it's better to choose Ryzen 5 5500 or Core i3-12100F.

Conclusion:

The Intel Core i5-3570K is a legend that will still serve. But time takes its toll: even in 2025, it should only be considered as a temporary solution or a nostalgia trip.

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.

i5-3570K

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 4000

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.

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

702

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2039

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

814

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2829

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2047

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4953

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-6600U

826 +17.7%

Pentium Gold G5620

763 +8.7%

Core i5-3570K

702

Xeon E7-8890 v4

656 -6.6%

A6-7480

624 -11.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-4570S

2458 +20.5%

Core i7-2600K

2240 +9.9%

Core i5-3570K

2039

Pentium Gold G6600

1858 -8.9%

Core i5-3350P

1707 -16.3%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 5 3580U

852 +4.7%

Xeon E5-1620 v2

831 +2.1%

Core i5-3570K

814

Core i7-6700TE

799 -1.8%

Core i5-10310U

781 -4.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2603

3123 +10.4%

Xeon E3-1290 v2

2990 +5.7%

Core i5-3570K

2829

Core i7-2600

2709 -4.2%

Core i7-3635QM

2592 -8.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-5575R

2097 +2.4%

Xeon E3-1265L v4

2073 +1.3%

Core i5-3570K

2047

Core i3-6300T

2019 -1.4%

Ryzen 7 3700U

1991 -2.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E3-1226 v3

5547 +12%

Xeon E3-1230L v3

5243 +5.9%

Core i5-3570K

4953

Core i7-6970HQ

4632 -6.5%

Core i5-3470S

4392 -11.3%