CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-3470T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3470S is a power-optimized quad-core desktop processor from the Ivy Bridge family, featuring a 65W TDP and 2.9 GHz base clock for thermally constrained desktop systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Quad-core performance handles basic office tasks well but struggles with modern multitasking demands.
Handles basic office applications and web browsing but struggles with heavy multitasking or large datasets.
Gaming
Same gaming limitations as the i5-3470 — four threads without Hyper-Threading create 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.
Dual-core with limited cache severely restricts virtualization capabilities.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP is more efficient than the 77W i5-3470, though modern processors deliver much more performance per watt.
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
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Dual-core design insufficient for AI inference
- Not applicable for this era of processor
Content Creation
Gaming
- Same turbo boost as i5-3470 for burst gaming performance
- Four threads limit modern gaming capability
- HD 2500 integrated graphics insufficient for gaming
- Lower base clock slightly reduces minimum frame rates compared to i5-3470
- 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- Outdated video decoding for modern codecs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
- 65W TDP for cooler and quieter operation
- Same 3.6 GHz turbo boost as i5-3470
- Full 6MB L3 cache preserved
- Good for small form factor builds
- PCIe 3.0 support
Cons
- Lower base clock than i5-3470 (2.9 vs 3.2 GHz)
- No Hyper-Threading limits multi-threaded performance
- HD 2500 integrated graphics are weak
- End-of-life LGA 1155 platform
- 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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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 i5-3470S
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- Intel Core i3-3220Rival
Desktop Budget
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with better IPC and AVX2 support at the same 65W TDP.
Compare head-to-headModern 6-core low-power processor with dramatically better performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Efficient 6-core, 12-thread processor for modern SFF builds.
Modern low-power 4-thread processor with superior IPC and platform features.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GEAlt
Budget quad-core low-power processor for modern compact systems.
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 i5-3470S offered a good balance of power efficiency and quad-core performance in 2012, but its outdated platform and lack of modern features make it obsolete today.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF desktop for basic computing 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 i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-3470T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3470S comes out ahead with a score of 4.8/10. 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 i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-3470T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3470S leads with a gaming performance score of 17/100 among Intel Core i5-3470S 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 i5-3470S (65 W), Intel Core i5-3470T (35 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3470S 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 i5-3470S has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-3470S (4 cores), Intel Core i5-3470T (2 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3470S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470S (6,700), Intel Core i5-3470T (3,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.