Intel Core i5-4670K Processor Review

Intel Malaysia launched the new Haswell-based Intel Core processors just yesterday, and today – we have the Core i5-4670K with us. 🙂

Here’s the processor

And the stock heatsink, no different from the heatsink seen with previous generations of Core processors.

And here’s the CPU-Z of the processor itself.

Details of the processor at Intel ARK

The Processor Benchmarks

This time around – we compare them with 5 other processors (yes, 5!!!) just to see how the Core i5 has progressed through the generations (Sorry, no 3rd gen i5) along with an i7 and the similarly priced AMD FX-8350, and the older X6 1100T that’s around the 2500K’s performance.

Test setup were 4GB (1 stick) Avexir Core series RAM and Asrock Z87E-ITX board.

Canon Digital Photo Professional

Converting 16 18 megapixel RAW file (CR2 format) into JPG format.

CPU	Time Taken
i5-4670K	112 seconds
i5-2500K	125 seconds
i5-760	172 seconds
i7-3770S	112 seconds
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T	153 seconds
AMD FX-8350	123 seconds

Arcsoft Media Converter 7

Converting a 1 minute 47 second video taken at 1080p 25fps from a Canon EOS 550D to H264 1280×720 (720p) video.

CPU	Time Taken
i5-4670K	32 seconds
i5-2500K	37 seconds
i5-760	48 seconds
i7-3770S	29 seconds
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T	39 seconds
AMD FX-8350	36 seconds

x264 – 10bit to 8bit Video Conversion

The source video is a 720p MKV file that is 90 seconds in duration. x264 settings at the slowest.

CPU	Time Taken
i5-4670K	228 seconds
i5-2500K	297 seconds
i5-760	392 seconds
i7-3770S	N/A
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T	261 seconds
AMD FX-8350	188 seconds

So as you can see – the Core i5 steadily progresses through the generations. The AMD processors take the lead (especially the FX) when it comes to tasks that take advantage of many cores.

Thermal Performance

In goldfries.com’s controlled temperature environment, the processor idles at 30c and peaked at 61c on load.

Overclocking

Paired with the Cooler Master Seidon 120M – I attempted to overclock (as usual) however I didn’t get what I expected. Even with 0.05 vcore added to the settings, the best I could reach was 4.3Ghz where I could still enter Windows 8 but fail halfway through video encoding.

From this failed attempt, I foresee that the stable speed with my 0.05vcore added setting would be around 4.2Ghz. Heat is not a problem, the processor doesn’t even touch 70c on my overclock. Another possible hindrance would be Windows 8 which I found it to be very picky when it comes to tolerating overclocks.

Interestingly, I got 4.2Ghz easily with my Sandy Bridge i5-2500K. That said, a 4.2Ghz Haswell Core i5 would still be faster than an Ivy Bridge / Sandy Bridge 4.2Ghz.

UPDATED : With a bit of efforting in meddling with the UEFI, I managed to get the processor to 4.3Ghz stable! 🙂 Not bad at all.

The Verdict

The Core i5-4670K is yet another solid processor from Intel, currently priced at around RM 720. On the downside? You have to change whatever board you’re using to an LGA 1150 board. It should last you at least 2 generations of Intel processor ………… well, hopefully.