Intel Core i5-3570S socket: LGA 1155

What the Core i5-3570S is

Intel Core i5-3570S is a low power quad core Ivy Bridge desktop processor that Intel released in June 2012. It runs at 3.1 GHz base with Turbo Boost 2.0 to 3.8 GHz, with 6 MB Intel Smart Cache and 4 threads. Power is rated at 65 W, which pairs a high 3.8 GHz single core peak with an efficient envelope. The 22 nm process makes that pairing work in slim towers.

Graphics are Intel HD Graphics 2500 at 650 MHz to 1150 MHz. The block handles office displays and video on its own, with Quick Sync for encodes. The chip keeps the dual channel DDR3 controller, AVX and virtualization support of the standard quads, so office and lab images run unchanged.

The model appeals where a fast burst matters but heat must stay low. Single thread tasks reach 3.8 GHz, while all core work holds near 3.1 GHz inside 65 W. Boards pair it with H77, B75 or Q77 and an SSD for a quiet yet responsive desk. The How to find your CPU socket type guide helps confirm the board before ordering.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Core i5-3570S fits LGA 1155 in FCLGA1155 form. 7 series boards boot it with a shipping BIOS, and most 6 series H61, H67, P67 and Z68 boards accept it after a BIOS update with Ivy Bridge microcode. B65, Q65 and Q67 stay Sandy Bridge only. Intel documents the chip as a 65 W Ivy quad, so any LGA 1155 board covers the power.

Slim and standard boards both suit it, with the choice turning on ports and management. Q77 fits managed fleets, while H77 covers home towers. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide walks through the update path, and Intel Core i5-3570 shows the 77 W twin for comparison.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR3-1333 and 1600, two channels, up to 32 GB for 25.6 GB/s. Two matched DIMMs give that rate and feed the shared graphics block. ECC is not supported, and DDR4 needs a newer socket.

PCI Express is 16 lanes from the CPU at PCIe 3.0, arranged as 1x16, 2x8 or 1x8 plus 2x4. Many builds stay on HD 2500 for office work, since two displays already run from the chip. A mainstream 2012 card matches the fast quad where extra outputs or light creation work are wanted.

Cooling follows the 65 W S rating with a 69.1 C case limit class. The stock cooler stays quiet in office use, while a compact tower helps hold the 3.8 GHz single core peak under repeated bursts. The 75 × 75 mm mount is shared across LGA generations.

Upgrade paths

On LGA 1155 the Core i5-3570S sits near the top of the 65 W group, so same power moves are short. A step to the 77 W Intel Core i5-3570 adds base clock on the same board where the cooler allows it, while memory and storage carry over. The BIOS must list the new model before the swap.

A platform move to DDR4 boards such as LGA 1200 needs a new board, new RAM and a new mount. Keep the 3570S system for efficient desk duty where its high turbo still covers bursts.