CPU Comparison
Core i5-3350P vs Intel Core i5-3470
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3350P is a unique 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processor designed specifically for budget gamers and system builders who plan to use a dedicated graphics card. Launched in September 2012, the 'P' suffix indicates that it lacks integrated graphics entirely. This allowed Intel to price it slightly lower while offering higher clock speeds. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, operating at a base frequency of 3.1 GHz and boosting up to 3.3 GHz. With a 69W TDP, it is remarkably power-efficient for a quad-core chip of its era. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory and provides 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes for expansion. The removal of the iGPU meant that every transistor was dedicated to CPU performance, making it a favorite for cheap gaming rigs paired with cards like the GTX 650 Ti or HD 7850. It remains a notable example of Intel segmenting the market for cost-conscious enthusiasts.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Solid performance for basic office tasks, provided a display output is available.
Quad-core performance handles basic office tasks but struggles with modern multitasking and heavy productivity workloads.
Gaming
Can handle pre-2015 games well with a dedicated GPU, but bottlenecks modern titles.
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 by 4 threads, but VT-d is supported.
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability but are limited by today's standards.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency; 69W TDP is very low for a quad-core CPU.
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
- Low core count limits compute
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Quad-core design insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor generation
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU to function
- 4 cores limit modern gaming performance
- Acceptable for older eSports titles
- 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
- Affordable price point at launch
- Low 69W TDP for cool operation
- Good clock speeds for its generation
- Fully featured CPU instruction set (AVX, AES-NI)
Cons
- Lacks integrated graphics
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Uses outdated DDR3 memory
- Locked multiplier
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 i5-3350P
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-2380PRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-5600KRival
Desktop
Newer Haswell architecture with better performance and integrated graphics.
Compare head-to-headIncludes integrated graphics for similar CPU performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
Modern budget alternative with capable integrated graphics.
- Intel Core i7-3770Alt
Hyper-threading and higher clocks on the same socket.
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600Alt
Massive multi-threading upgrade 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 clever cost-saving CPU for 2012 gamers, but the lack of an iGPU and outdated architecture make it obsolete today.
Best for: Building a retro gaming PC from used parts
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 better, Core i5-3350P or Intel Core i5-3470?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i5-3350P comes out ahead with a score of 5.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Core i5-3350P or Intel Core i5-3470?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3470 leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Core i5-3350P and Intel Core i5-3470.
Which uses less power?
The Core i5-3350P has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-3350P (69 W), Intel Core i5-3470 (77 W).
Do Core i5-3350P 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.