CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Core i3-12100
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3470T is a low-power dual-core desktop processor from the Ivy Bridge family, featuring Hyper-Threading and a 35W TDP designed for compact and thermally constrained desktop systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles basic office applications and web browsing but struggles with heavy multitasking or large datasets.
Handles everyday office tasks and web applications with ease, but heavy multitasking will expose the 4-core limitation.
Gaming
The HD 2500 integrated graphics and dual-core design make it completely unsuitable for modern gaming.
Delivers playable 1080p frame rates in esports and older AAA titles when paired with a mid-range GPU, though 4 cores limit performance in modern CPU-heavy games.
Virtualization
Dual-core with limited cache severely restricts virtualization capabilities.
Can run a single lightweight virtual machine, but lacks the core count for serious virtualization workloads.
Efficiency
The 35W TDP was impressive for 2012, though modern low-power chips deliver far more performance per watt.
Very power-efficient for a desktop processor, drawing little power at idle and scaling linearly under load.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Dual-core design insufficient for AI inference
- Not applicable for this era of processor
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- CPU-based inference is slow with only 4 cores
- Not designed or recommended for machine learning tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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- Outdated video decoding for modern codecs
- Strong single-core performance benefits esports titles significantly
- Bottlenecks appear with GPUs above the RTX 3060 tier in CPU-bound games
- UHD 730 iGPU is insufficient for modern gaming
- 4 cores and 8 threads are the minimum recommended for modern PC gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- Outstanding single-thread performance for the price
- Includes UHD Graphics 730 for display output without a dGPU
- Bundled Laminar RM1 cooler saves money
- DDR4 and DDR5 memory flexibility
- PCIe 5.0 support for future-proofing
- Very low 60 W power consumption
Cons
- Only 4 cores limit heavy multi-threaded workloads
- No hybrid E-cores like higher-tier Alder Lake parts
- Locked multiplier prevents CPU overclocking
- UHD 730 iGPU is too weak for modern gaming
- LGA 1700 is a dead-end platform following 14th-gen
Competitors & Alternatives
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.
Intel Core i3-12100
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Rival
Budget Gaming
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300GRival
Budget APU
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Rival
Previous-Gen AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-10100Rival
Previous-Gen Intel
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GRival
Mainstream APU
Saves $25 if a dedicated GPU is already part of the build plan.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Provides 6 Golden Cove cores for significantly better multitasking and gaming longevity.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
A step up in price but offers a much more balanced 6-core/12-thread profile for gaming and productivity.
If priced similarly, the 13th-gen offers a slight frequency bump for a seamless upgrade.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewThe i3-12100 delivers exceptional single-threaded performance for its $122 price point, complete with an iGPU and a stock cooler, making it one of the most well-rounded budget desktop processors Intel has ever produced.
Best for: Buy the i3-12100 if you are building a budget desktop PC and want the peace of mind of having integrated graphics as a fallback, or if you do not plan to install a dedicated GPU. At its current street price, it is an excellent choice for office PCs, student workstations, and entry-level gaming rigs paired with a mid-range graphics card like the GTX 1660 Super or RX 6600. Avoid it only if you are certain you will never need the iGPU, as the 12100F offers identical CPU performance for less money.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3470T or Intel Core i3-12100?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-12100 comes out ahead with a score of 7.8/10. 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 i5-3470T or Intel Core i3-12100?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-12100 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i5-3470T and Intel Core i3-12100.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3470T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3470T (35 W), Intel Core i3-12100 (60 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3470T and Intel Core i3-12100 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3470T: LGA 1155, Intel Core i3-12100: LGA 1700), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i3-12100 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-3470T (2 cores), Intel Core i3-12100 (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-12100 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470T (3,500), Intel Core i3-12100 (8,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.