CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Core i5-2400S
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 basic office tasks but struggles with heavy spreadsheets or modern web apps.
Gaming
The HD 2500 integrated graphics and dual-core design make it completely unsuitable for modern gaming.
Cannot handle modern AAA games, even at lowest settings.
Virtualization
Dual-core with limited cache severely restricts virtualization capabilities.
Can run a basic NAS OS or light VM, but limited by 4 threads.
Efficiency
The 35W TDP was impressive for 2012, though modern low-power chips deliver far more performance per watt.
Good power-to-core ratio for the 32nm era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Dual-core design insufficient for AI inference
- Not applicable for this era of processor
- No AI hardware capabilities
- Too slow for practical machine learning inference
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- Outdated video decoding for modern codecs
- HD 2000 graphics lack driver support for modern titles
- Even with a discrete GPU, CPU bottlenecks severely
- Playable only in legacy esports like CS 1.6
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- DDR3 memory is obsolete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
- True quad-core CPU
- Low 65W power draw
- Cool and quiet operation
- Full 6 MB L3 cache
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading
- Low clock speeds
- Outdated HD 2000 graphics
- Not Windows 11 compatible
- Locked multiplier
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 i5-2400S
- AMD Phenom II X4 960TRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4100Rival
Desktop
- AMD A8-3800Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2390TRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-2125Rival
Desktop
Standard power, faster clocks for tower PCs.
Compare head-to-headSame power, better integrated graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD FX-4300Alt
Slightly newer platform with more upgrade paths.
- Intel Core i7-2600SAlt
Same 65W TDP but adds Hyper-Threading.
- Intel Xeon E3-1235Alt
Similar specs with better graphics, though 80W TDP.
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 reviewA power-efficient quad-core chip that is now strictly relegated to keeping legacy small form factor office PCs operational.
Best for: Direct replacement for a failed CPU in a Dell Optiplex SFF
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-3470T or Intel Core i5-2400S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-2400S leads with a gaming performance score of 15/100 among Intel Core i5-3470T and Intel Core i5-2400S.
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 i5-2400S (65 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3470T and Intel Core i5-2400S use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the LGA 1155 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-2400S has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-3470T (2 cores), Intel Core i5-2400S (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3470T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3470T (3,500), Intel Core i5-2400S (2,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.