CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3475S vs Intel Core i5-2405S
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3475S is a 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge desktop processor featuring Intel HD 4000 graphics, offering better GPU performance than the HD 2500-equipped i5-3470S in the same power envelope.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Same CPU performance as the i5-3470S — adequate for basic office work but limited by today's standards.
CPU performance is identical to the i5-2400S, adequate for legacy apps.
Gaming
HD 4000 provides noticeably better gaming capability than HD 2500 but is still insufficient for modern titles.
HD 3000 can handle very old games, but nothing modern.
Virtualization
Four cores without Hyper-Threading provide basic virtualization capability.
VM performance is constrained by the 4-thread limit.
Efficiency
The 65W TDP balances power efficiency with the additional GPU capability, reasonable for 2012.
Excellent power metrics for a quad-core chip of its era.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Not applicable for this processor generation
- Insufficient compute for AI workloads
- No AI acceleration capabilities
Content Creation
Gaming
- HD 4000 with 16 EUs is the best integrated GPU in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
- Can handle older games like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 at low settings
- GPU shares system memory bandwidth, limiting performance
- Modern gaming still requires a discrete GPU
- HD 3000 is noticeably faster than HD 2000 in legacy titles
- Still lacks DirectX 12 support
- Not viable for 3D gaming past 2012 standards
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- HD 4000 graphics — best IGP in the Ivy Bridge i5 desktop lineup
- 65W TDP for power-efficient operation
- 16 Execution Units provide double the GPU compute of HD 2500
- Same 3.6 GHz turbo boost as other i5-3470 variants
- Full 6MB L3 cache
Cons
- HD 4000 still weak by modern standards
- No Hyper-Threading limits CPU multi-threading
- End-of-life LGA 1155 platform
- No Windows 11 support
- Rare and hard to find on the used market
- DDR3 memory is obsolete
Pros
- Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics
- Quick Sync Video support
- Low 65W power draw
- Full 6 MB L3 cache
Cons
- Rare and potentially expensive on the used market
- No Hyper-Threading
- Lower clocks than standard 95W parts
- Lacks AVX2
- Not Windows 11 compatible
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-3475S
- AMD A10-5700Rival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3470SRival
Desktop Low Power
- Intel Core i7-3770SRival
Desktop Low Power
- AMD A8-5500Rival
Desktop Budget
Haswell successor with Iris Pro 5200 graphics in a 65W BGA package.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
Modern 6-core APU with Vega 7 graphics for systems without discrete GPUs.
Modern processor with UHD 770 graphics and dramatically better CPU performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4300GEAlt
Low-power quad-core with modern Vega integrated graphics.
Modern budget processor with UHD 730 graphics and much better IPC.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-2405S
- AMD A8-3850Rival
Desktop APU
- AMD A6-3670Rival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-2400SRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-2125Rival
Desktop
- AMD Phenom II X4 860TRival
Desktop
Better CPU clocks and better graphics within the same 65W TDP.
Compare head-to-head- AMD A10-5700Alt
Newer APU platform with significantly better graphics.
- Intel Core i7-2600SAlt
Adds Hyper-Threading for better multi-tasking.
- Intel Xeon E3-1245Alt
Similar HD 3000 graphics but in an 80W standard-power package.
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-3475S stands out as the only 65W quad-core Ivy Bridge i5 with HD 4000 graphics, but its outdated platform still makes it unsuitable for modern builds.
Best for: Maintaining an existing system that relies on integrated graphics without a discrete GPU
Read the full reviewA niche OEM processor that offered better integrated graphics in a low-power package, now mostly useful for exact-match legacy repairs.
Best for: Replacing a failed CPU in a 2011 Apple iMac or premium AIO
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3475S or Intel Core i5-2405S?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-3475S comes out ahead with a score of 5.2/10. 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 i5-3475S or Intel Core i5-2405S?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-3475S leads with a gaming performance score of 19/100 among Intel Core i5-3475S and Intel Core i5-2405S.
Do Intel Core i5-3475S and Intel Core i5-2405S 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 i5-3475S posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3475S (6,800), Intel Core i5-2405S (2,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.