Athlon Gold 7220U vs Core i5-3570K
Athlon Gold 7220U
Core i5-3570K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon Gold 7220U is positioned at rank 655 and the Core i5-3570K is on rank 749, so the Athlon Gold 7220U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3570K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-3570K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) / 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-3570K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon Gold 7220U and Core i5-3570K
Athlon Gold 7220U
The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-3570K
The Core i5-3570K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,971 points. Launch price was $235.
Processing Power
The Athlon Gold 7220U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3570K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3570K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-3570K — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-3570K (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i5-3570K uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 7220U scores 4,904 against the Core i5-3570K's 4,971 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i5-3570K. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 7220U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3570K.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-3570K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.4 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 6 nm-73% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,904 | 4,971+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-3570K uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-3570K — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 199.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-3570K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 16 (Core i5-3570K) — the Core i5-3570K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U) and Z75,Z77 (Core i5-3570K).
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-3570K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT6 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 5500+183233% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 32 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i5-3570K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-3570K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Athlon Gold 7220U) and HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3570K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3570K targets Legacy Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4; Core i5-3570K rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | Core i5-3570K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Gaming Desktop |
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