CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i5-4460
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.
Adequate for basic office tasks and web browsing but struggles with heavy multitasking or large spreadsheet calculations.
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.
Can handle older or eSports titles at 1080p with a dedicated GPU, but bottlenecks modern AAA games significantly.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability but are limited by today's standards.
Limited by four threads and no Hyper-Threading; running multiple VMs is impractical.
Efficiency
The 77W TDP was reasonable for 2012 but is inefficient compared to modern quad-core processors that consume half the power.
The 22nm Haswell node was efficient for its time, but 84W TDP for this performance level is high by modern standards.
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 acceleration hardware
- AVX2 provides minimal benefit for inference workloads
- DDR3 bandwidth is a severe bottleneck for AI tasks
- Not viable for any meaningful local AI inference
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
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs in CPU-intensive titles
- Suitable for eSports games like CS:GO and League of Legends
- Lacks AVX2-heavy game optimizations in newer titles
- DDR3 memory bandwidth limits frame pacing in open-world games
- No Hyper-Threading reduces minimum frame rates in threaded engines
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
- Affordable on the used market
- Four real cores without SMT scheduling quirks
- Integrated HD 4600 for basic display needs
- Wide availability of used LGA 1150 motherboards
- Low enough power for basic cooling solutions
Cons
- Only 4 threads with no Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- DDR3 memory is obsolete and slower
- 84W TDP is inefficient for the performance delivered
- No longer receives microcode updates for new security mitigations
- Minimal turbo boost of only 200 MHz
- Outpaced by modern budget CPUs like the i3-12100
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 i5-4460
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-8320Rival
Budget Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD A10-7850KRival
APU Desktop
- Intel Core i5-4440Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
Same platform with higher clocks and turbo boost for slightly more money.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Alt
Modern 6-core/12-thread CPU with DDR4 support at similar used pricing.
Modern budget CPU that vastly outperforms the i5-4460 in single-threaded tasks.
Compare head-to-headSkylake successor with DDR4 support and better efficiency on the same class of motherboard pricing.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Modern APU with vastly superior integrated graphics and six cores.
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 reviewA dependable mid-range Haswell processor that delivered excellent value during its prime, but struggles to meet modern workload demands due to its locked multiplier and aging DDR3 platform.
Best for: Used spare part for repairing an existing LGA 1150 system
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470 or Intel Core i5-4460?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4460 comes out ahead with a score of 7/10. 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 i5-4460?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4460 leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i5-4460.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3470 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3470 (77 W), Intel Core i5-4460 (84 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i5-4460 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3470: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-4460: LGA 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
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 i5-4460 (4,210). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.