CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-3475S
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.
Same CPU performance as the i5-3470S — adequate for basic office work but limited by today's standards.
Gaming
Same gaming limitations as the i5-3470 — four threads without Hyper-Threading create bottlenecks in modern titles.
HD 4000 provides noticeably better gaming capability than HD 2500 but is still insufficient for modern titles.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP is more efficient than the 77W i5-3470, though modern processors deliver much more performance per watt.
The 65W TDP balances power efficiency with the additional GPU capability, reasonable for 2012.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
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 4000 with 16 EUs is the best integrated GPU in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
- Can handle older games like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 at low settings
- GPU shares system memory bandwidth, limiting performance
- Modern gaming still requires a discrete GPU
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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- HD 4000 graphics — best IGP in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
- 65W TDP for power-efficient operation
- 16 Execution Units provide double the GPU compute of HD 2500
- Same 3.6 GHz turbo boost as other i5-3470 variants
- Full 6MB L3 cache
Cons
- HD 4000 still weak by modern standards
- No Hyper-Threading limits CPU multi-threading
- End-of-life LGA 1155 platform
- No Windows 11 support
- Rare and hard to find on the used market
- 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 i5-3475S
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop Low Power
- Intel Core i7-3770SRival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with Iris Pro 5200 graphics in a 65W BGA package.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Modern 6-core APU with Vega 7 graphics for systems without discrete GPUs.
Modern processor with UHD 770 graphics and dramatically better CPU performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GEAlt
Low-power quad-core with modern Vega integrated graphics.
Modern budget processor with UHD 730 graphics and much better IPC.
Compare head-to-head
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 i5-3475S stands out as the only 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge i5 with HD 4000 graphics, but its outdated platform still makes it unsuitable for modern builds.
Best for: Maintaining an existing system that relies on integrated graphics without a discrete GPU
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-3475S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3475S comes out ahead with a score of 5.2/10. 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 i5-3475S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3475S leads with a gaming performance score of 19/100 among Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-3475S.
Do Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-3475S 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 i5-3475S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470S (6,700), Intel Core i5-3475S (6,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.