CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-4430S
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 office suites and multitasking well enough for basic use.
Gaming
Same gaming limitations as the i5-3470 — four threads without Hyper-Threading create bottlenecks in modern titles.
Quad cores are okay for old games, but single-thread speed is too low today.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
Can run a basic VM, but lacks Hyper-Threading.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP is more efficient than the 77W i5-3470, though modern processors deliver much more performance per watt.
Good efficiency for a 22nm desktop chip.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No AI hardware
- Too slow for modern 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
- Needs a dedicated GPU
- Low single-thread performance by modern standards
- Not recommended for modern AAA 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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- Good 65W TDP
- True 4 physical cores
- Reliable for basic office tasks
- Socketed design
Cons
- Low clock speeds
- Obsolete DDR3 memory
- No Hyper-Threading
- Weak integrated graphics
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 i5-4430S
- Intel Core i5-4430Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4440SRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop
- AMD A10-6700Rival
Desktop
Vastly superior single-core and modern platform.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500Alt
Cheap 6-core processor for budget builds.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Modern 6-core with excellent price/performance.
- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget quad-core alternative.
- Intel Pentium G7400Alt
Modern dual-core for basic needs.
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 well-balanced 65W quad-core that was a staple in pre-built office PCs, but is too slow for modern demanding workloads.
Best for: For modern users, the Core i5-4430S holds very little value outside of maintaining an older system. If you have a functioning LGA 1150 motherboard and need a cheap processor to keep an office machine or media center running, this chip is adequate. Its quad-core design still handles basic web browsing and document editing reasonably well. However, it struggles significantly with modern gaming and heavy multitasking. It should never be purchased for a new build, as its platform lacks support for modern I/O like NVMe booting (on most older boards), USB 3.1 Gen 2, and DDR4 memory. If you find one used for a few dollars, it might be worth it to revive an old PC. Otherwise, save your money for a modern entry-level processor, which will offer vastly superior single-core speeds and power efficiency.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470S or Intel Core i5-4430S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4430S 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 i5-4430S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4430S leads with a gaming performance score of 35/100 among Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-4430S.
Do Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-4430S use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3470S: LGA 1155, Intel Core i5-4430S: Intel Socket 1150 (LGA1150)), 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 i5-4430S (6,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.