CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-3550S
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.
The 3.7 GHz turbo provides marginally better performance than the i5-3470S, but the difference is barely noticeable in real-world use.
Gaming
Same gaming limitations as the i5-3470 — four threads without Hyper-Threading create bottlenecks in modern titles.
The slightly higher clocks provide a marginal improvement over the i5-3470S but the same fundamental limitations apply — four threads without HT bottleneck modern gaming.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
Same four-core, four-thread design limits virtualization capability as other S-series i5 processors.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP is more efficient than the 77W i5-3470, though modern processors deliver much more performance per watt.
The 65W TDP with slightly higher clocks is well-optimized for the 22nm process, though modern 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 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
- 3.7 GHz turbo is the highest among 65W Ivy Bridge i5 models
- Still limited by four threads without Hyper-Threading
- HD 2500 graphics insufficient for gaming
- Modern titles will be CPU-bottlenecked even with 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
- Highest turbo (3.7 GHz) among 65W Ivy Bridge i5 models
- 100 MHz higher base and turbo than i5-3470S
- 65W TDP for cooler operation
- Full 6MB L3 cache
- PCIe 3.0 support
Cons
- Only marginally faster than i5-3470S
- 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
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 i5-3550S
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Desktop Mainstream
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with AVX2, better IPC, and the same 65W TDP.
Compare head-to-headModern 6-core, 65W processor with dramatically better performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Efficient 6-core, 12-thread modern processor for SFF builds.
Modern low-power 4-thread processor with vastly superior IPC.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GEAlt
Budget quad-core with modern Vega integrated graphics and DDR4.
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 i5-3550S offers slightly better clocks than the i5-3470S within the same 65W envelope, but its outdated platform makes it unsuitable for modern use.
Best for: Maintaining an existing SFF desktop that already uses this processor
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-3550S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3550S comes out ahead with a score of 4.9/10. 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 i5-3550S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3550S leads with a gaming performance score of 18/100 among Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-3550S.
Do Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-3550S 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 i5-3550S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470S (6,700), Intel Core i5-3550S (6,950). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.