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Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i3-4170

Overview:

Comparison between Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i3-4170

Both CPUs are manufactured by Intel. Intel Core i3-4170 has a higher base speed of 3.7 GHz compared to Intel Core i5-12500's 3.0 GHz. Intel Core i5-12500 has a higher turbo speed of 4.6 GHz compared to Intel Core i3-4170's GHz. Intel Core i5-12500 has more cores (6) compared to Intel Core i3-4170's 2 cores. Intel Core i5-12500 supports more threads (12) compared to Intel Core i3-4170's 4 threads.

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. Intel Core i5-12500 uses the LGA socket, while Intel Core i3-4170 uses the LGA1150 socket. Intel Core i5-12500 was launched in Q1 2022, while Intel Core i3-4170 was launched in Q2 2015. Intel Core i5-12500 has a larger L3 cache of 18 MB compared to Intel Core i3-4170's 3 MB.

Specification Summary

The Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i3-4170 are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by Intel.
Speed: The Intel Core i5-12500 has a base speed of 3.0 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4170 runs at 3.7 GHz.
Turbo Boost: The Intel Core i5-12500 supports a turbo speed of 4.6 GHz, compared to GHz for the Intel Core i3-4170.
Cores: The Intel Core i5-12500 has 6 cores, while the Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores.
Threads: The Intel Core i5-12500 supports 12 threads, compared to 4 threads for the Intel Core i3-4170.
Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
Socket: The Intel Core i5-12500 uses the LGA, while the Intel Core i3-4170 uses the LGA1150.
Launch Date: The Intel Core i5-12500 was launched on Q1 2022, while the Intel Core i3-4170 was released on Q2 2015.
L3 Cache: The Intel Core i5-12500 has 18 MB of L3 cache, compared to 3 MB for the Intel Core i3-4170.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i3-4170

Manufacturer	Intel	Intel
Speed	3.0 GHz	3.7 GHz
Turbo	4.6 GHz	GHz
Cores	6	2
Threads	12	4
Class	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA	LGA1150
Launched	Q1 2022	Q2 2015
L3 Cache	18 MB	3 MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:

CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

Intel Core i5-12500:

61%

Intel Core i3-4170:

34%

* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:

CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

Intel Core i5-12500

28%

Intel Core i3-4170:

* More is Better

Power Efficiency:

Power Consumption of CPU under full load

Intel Core i5-12500: 65 watts

16.25%

Intel Core i3-4170: 54 watts

13.5%

* Lower is Better

Launched Date:

Time when the CPU was launched

Intel Core i5-12500 : Q1 2022 ✅

Intel Core i3-4170 : Q2 2015 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

Intel Core i5-12500

Intel Core i3-4170

Pro's and Con's

Intel Core i5-12500 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The Intel Core i5-12500 supports a higher turbo boost speed of 4.6 GHz compared to the Intel Core i3-4170's GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 3687, the Intel Core i5-12500 outperforms the Intel Core i3-4170 (score: 2051). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
Larger L3 Cache: The Intel Core i5-12500 features a larger L3 cache of 18MB compared to the Intel Core i3-4170's 3MB. A larger cache improves performance in memory-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, by reducing latency and speeding up data access.

Cons:

Higher Power Consumption: The Intel Core i5-12500 has a higher TDP of 65W compared to the Intel Core i3-4170's 54W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.

Intel Core i3-4170 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

Newer Release: The Intel Core i3-4170 was launched more recently (Q2 2015) compared to the Intel Core i5-12500 (Q1 2022). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.
Higher Base Clock Speed: The Intel Core i3-4170 has a higher base clock speed of 3.7 GHz compared to the Intel Core i5-12500's 3.0 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
Higher CPU Mark Score: The Intel Core i3-4170 has a higher CPU Mark score of 99.84 compared to the Intel Core i5-12500's 98.57. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

Fewer Cores: The Intel Core i3-4170 has 2 cores, which is fewer than the Intel Core i5-12500's 6 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
Fewer Threads: The Intel Core i3-4170 has 4 threads, which is fewer than the Intel Core i5-12500's 12 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the Intel Core i3-4170 scores 3584, which is lower than the Intel Core i5-12500's score of 19911. This makes the Intel Core i5-12500 a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.

Productivity

Intel Core i5-12500
This cpu Handles Mid Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Mid Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

Intel Core i3-4170
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

Gaming

Intel Core i5-12500
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.

Intel Core i3-4170
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.

Verdict