CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i5-3470T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3470 is a quad-core desktop processor from the Ivy Bridge family, offering solid mainstream performance with a 3.2 GHz base clock, 3.6 GHz turbo, and 77W TDP for budget-conscious builders.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Quad-core performance handles basic office tasks but struggles with modern multitasking and heavy productivity workloads.
Handles basic office applications and web browsing but struggles with heavy multitasking or large datasets.
Gaming
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.
The HD 2500 integrated graphics and dual-core design make it completely unsuitable for modern gaming.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability but are limited by today's standards.
Dual-core with limited cache severely restricts virtualization capabilities.
Efficiency
The 77W TDP was reasonable for 2012 but is inefficient compared to modern quad-core processors that consume half the power.
The 35W TDP was impressive for 2012, though modern low-power chips deliver far more performance per watt.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Quad-core design insufficient for modern AI workloads
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Dual-core design insufficient for AI inference
- Not applicable for this era of processor
Content Creation
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
- HD 2500 graphics with only 6 Execution Units
- No capability for modern titles even at 720p low
- Dual-core bottleneck limits even paired discrete GPUs
- Outdated video decoding for modern codecs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Very low 35W TDP for quiet or compact desktop builds
- Hyper-Threading provides 4 threads from 2 cores
- 3.6 GHz turbo boost offers good single-thread burst performance
- PCIe 3.0 support for full-bandwidth GPU connectivity
- LGA 1155 platform offers wide compatibility with budget motherboards
Cons
- Only 2 physical cores severely limit multi-threaded performance
- HD 2500 integrated graphics are very weak
- 3MB L3 cache is half of standard quad-core i5 models
- No Windows 11 support
- End-of-life platform with no upgrade path beyond Ivy Bridge
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core i5-3470T
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A6-5400KRival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with slightly better performance and improved integrated graphics.
Compare head-to-headModern 4-thread processor with dramatically better single-thread performance and platform features.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GEAlt
Low-power quad-core with Vega graphics for modern compact builds.
6-core low-power Coffee Lake processor for modern SFF desktops.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Efficient 6-core processor with strong integrated graphics for small form factor builds.
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewThe i5-3470T was an efficient choice for compact desktops in 2012, but its dual-core design and outdated platform make it unsuitable for modern workloads.
Best for: Maintaining an existing legacy system for basic tasks
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470 or Intel Core i5-3470T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3470 comes out ahead with a score of 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, Intel Core i5-3470 or Intel Core i5-3470T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3470 leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i5-3470T.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3470T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3470 (77 W), Intel Core i5-3470T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i5-3470T use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-3470 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-3470 (4 cores), Intel Core i5-3470T (2 cores).
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), Intel Core i5-3470T (3,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.