CPU Comparison
Core i5-3330 vs Intel Core i5-3470
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3330 is a 3rd generation desktop processor launched in September 2012 as part of the Ivy Bridge architecture. Designed for the LGA 1155 socket, it brought the 22nm manufacturing process to mainstream users, offering improved efficiency over the previous Sandy Bridge generation. This quad-core processor operates at a base frequency of 3.0 GHz and boosts up to 3.2 GHz. It features 6MB of L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR3 memory. The inclusion of Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics provided basic display capabilities, though it was not intended for gaming. With a 77W TDP, it balanced power consumption and performance adequately for its time. While it lacks Hyper-Threading and an unlocked multiplier, it remained a popular choice for budget-conscious builders and office PCs, providing reliable performance for everyday computing tasks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Can handle basic document editing, but struggles with heavy multitasking or modern web apps.
Quad-core performance handles basic office tasks but struggles with modern multitasking and heavy productivity workloads.
Gaming
Severely bottlenecks modern GPUs. Only viable for pre-2015 games at low settings.
When paired with a modern GPU, the i5-3470 can handle very light or older games, but the lack of threads creates significant bottlenecks in modern titles.
Virtualization
Limited to very light virtualization due to lack of Hyper-Threading.
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability but are limited by today's standards.
Efficiency
Efficient for its era, but completely outclassed by modern 10nm and 7nm processors.
The 77W TDP was reasonable for 2012 but is inefficient compared to modern quad-core processors that consume half the power.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware acceleration
- AVX instructions present but too slow for modern AI
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Quad-core design insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor generation
Content Creation
Gaming
- Low clock speeds limit frame rates
- 4 cores cause stuttering in modern games
- HD 2500 graphics are useless for gaming
- Four cores without Hyper-Threading limit frame rates in modern games
- PCIe 3.0 x16 provides adequate GPU bandwidth
- HD 2500 integrated graphics are insufficient for gaming
- CPU bottleneck in modern AAA titles even with mid-range GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Good single-core performance for 2012
- Low power consumption for its generation
- Supports PCIe 3.0
- Reliable quad-core design for basic tasks
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Lacks Hyper-Threading
- Uses outdated DDR3 memory
- Integrated HD 2500 is very weak
Pros
- Four physical cores for mainstream multi-threaded workloads
- 6MB shared L3 cache improves performance over dual-core models
- PCIe 3.0 support for full-bandwidth GPU connectivity
- vPro support for enterprise management
- Affordable on the used market for legacy builds
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading limits multi-threaded performance
- 77W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- HD 2500 integrated graphics are very weak
- LGA 1155 platform is end-of-life with no upgrade path
- No Windows 11 support
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
Competitors & Alternatives
Core i5-3330
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-5600KRival
Desktop
Newer Haswell architecture with better performance and instructions.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
Vastly superior modern alternative with integrated graphics capable of light gaming.
Slightly higher clock speeds on the same socket if buying used.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-3770Alt
Hyper-threading and higher clocks on the same LGA 1151 motherboard.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Massive leap in multi-threaded performance for a small budget.
Intel Core i5-3470
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Desktop Enthusiast
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570KRival
Desktop Enthusiast
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop Mainstream
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with AVX2 support and slightly better IPC.
Compare head-to-headModern 4-thread processor with dramatically better IPC, DDR4/DDR5, and platform features.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Six-core, twelve-thread modern processor at similar used pricing with vastly superior performance.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
Modern 6-core budget processor that outperforms the i5-3470 in every metric at low cost.
- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget quad-core with SMT on a modern platform with DDR4 support.
Our Verdict on Each
A historic workhorse for basic computing, but its 4-core/4-thread design and HD 2500 graphics make it obsolete for modern workloads.
Best for: Purchasing a $10 used office PC for basic web browsing
Read the full reviewThe i5-3470 was a reliable mainstream quad-core in 2012, but its lack of Hyper-Threading, outdated platform, and DDR3 memory make it obsolete for modern builds.
Best for: Maintaining an existing legacy system for basic office or web tasks
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-3330 or Intel Core i5-3470?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3470 leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Core i5-3330 and Intel Core i5-3470.
Do Core i5-3330 and Intel Core i5-3470 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3470 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470 (7,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.