CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-4440S
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 tasks well but struggles with heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Same gaming limitations as the i5-3470 — four threads without Hyper-Threading create bottlenecks in modern titles.
Bottlenecks modern GPUs; suitable only for older titles.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
Limited to very light VM usage due to 4 threads.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP is more efficient than the 77W i5-3470, though modern processors deliver much more performance per watt.
Good efficiency for its era thanks to the 65W TDP.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Extremely slow for modern AI inference
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
- Requires a dedicated GPU for any 3D workloads
- Will severely bottleneck modern mid-range GPUs
- Capable of running CS:GO and older source engine games
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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- Low 65W TDP for efficient cooling
- Solid quad-core performance for legacy tasks
- Includes Intel HD 4600 graphics
- Affordable on the used market
- Good for basic office and home theater PCs
Cons
- Obsolete DDR3 platform
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- Lacks modern instruction sets
- Will bottleneck modern GPUs
- No official Windows 11 support
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 i5-4440S
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Intel Core i5-4440Rival
Standard Desktop
- Intel Core i3-4360Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD A8-6600KRival
Budget APU
Newer Haswell Refresh with slightly better clocks.
Compare head-to-headHyper-threading and more L3 cache for heavier loads.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 1200Alt
Modern platform with upgrade path.
Modern quad-core budget alternative.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Pentium G4560Alt
Budget dual-core with HT, similar performance in many tasks.
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 reviewA reliable 65W quad-core CPU ideal for basic legacy systems, but obsolete for modern builds.
Best for: Drop-in upgrade for an existing LGA 1150 system.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-4440S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4440S comes out ahead with a score of 6.5/10. 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 i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-4440S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4440S leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-4440S.
Do Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-4440S use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3470S: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-4440S: LGA 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
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 i5-4440S (3,200). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.