Intel Core i5 3570K 4-core LGA 1155

The 3570K is a budget overclocking legend that still gets the job done for basic tasks. Just don't expect it to keep up with anything made in the last five years.

What surprised us is how well the single-thread numbers hold up for a chip this old. A PassMark single score of 2044 puts it right around average for all CPUs in our database, which is honestly impressive for a processor from 2012. The multi-core score of 4969 is where it falls behind, landing in the bottom 40 percent. But for basic gaming and office work, the 3.8GHz boost clock keeps things snappy. The HD Graphics 4000 iGPU is a weak spot, fine for desktop use but useless for anything beyond 720p gaming.

Against something like the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, the 3570K gets absolutely demolished in multi-threaded workloads and efficiency. The Ryzen chip is on a modern platform with DDR5 support and way better power draw. But the 3570K costs a fraction of the price and still works on cheap used LGA 1155 boards. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is another interesting alternative if you need more cores for server tasks, but it's locked and harder to find. For pure budget gaming on old hardware, the 3570K holds its own.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US you'll see listings from USD 36 to USD 139, and the best deal is the refurbished option on Newegg. In Europe the spread is even wider, EUR 97 to EUR 282, with the lowest price coming from the DE listing. If you can snag one under USD 50 or EUR 100, it's a steal for a budget build. Paying over USD 100 for this in 2025 is a mistake.

The Core i5-3570K is the old reliable of CPUs. It's a 22nm Ivy Bridge quad-core that refuses to die, mostly because it's cheap, unlocked, and still handles everyday tasks without wheezing. The one thing to know? This chip is a budget overclocker's playground, not a modern performance monster.

If you're looking for a CPU that can handle modern AAA games, video editing, or any kind of multi-threaded workload, this isn't it. Go grab a used Ryzen 5 3600 or even a newer i3 instead. You'll spend a bit more but get dramatically better performance and an upgrade path.

Buy it if you're building a cheap used PC for light gaming or office work and you enjoy tinkering with overclocks. Skip it if you need anything resembling modern multi-core performance or plan to upgrade later. This is a nostalgia build chip, not a daily driver for serious work.