Intel announced its much anticipated 4th generation Core processor family, codenamed "Haswell." The company launched as many as eight desktop retail processor models, all of which are quad-core, and spread across the Core i7 and Core i5 families. Leading the pack is the Core i7-4770K, which fully utilizes the 1.4 billion-transistor silicon, including four x86-64 cores with HyperThreading enabling eight logical CPUs, a new-generation HD Graphics 4600 core with 20 execution units, 8 MB of L3 cache, a dual-channel integrated memory controller supporting up to 32 GB of high-frequency DDR3 memory, and a 20-lane PCI-Express gen 3.0 root complex. The chip features unlocked base-clock multiplier, three BClk ratios, and iVR (integrated VRM).

The i7-4770K features 3.50 GHz clocks, and 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost. It is priced around US $350 in most stores. A variant without the unlocked base-clock multiplier and 3.40 GHz clocks, the Core i7-4770, is being sold around $320. An energy-efficient version of this chip, the Core i7-4770S, is priced around $310, it lacks unlocked BClk multiplier, and is clocked at 3.10 GHz, with the same 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost. While the other two feature 84W TDP, the i7-4770S features 65W.Trailing the Core i7-4770 series is the Core i5-4670K. This quad-core chip features nearly everything the i7-4770K does, except it lacks HyperThreading, its Turbo Boost maxes out at 3.80 GHz, and features a smaller 6 MB L3 cache. It is priced at $250. A variant without the unlocked BClk multiplier, feature, the i5-4670, is priced at $230. Next up, is the Core i5-4570, featuring 3.20 GHz clocks, 3.60 GHz Turbo Boost, and a slightly slower graphics core. It is priced at $210. Its energy-efficient variant, the Core i5-4570S, features 65W TDP, 2.90 GHz clocks, 3.60 GHz Turbo Boost, and a $200 price-tag. The only sub-$200 chip in the pile is the Core i5-4430, featuring 3.00 GHz clocks, 3.20 GHz Turbo Boost, and a $190 price-tag.