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Intel Core i5-3470

Intel Core i5-3470: Review and Relevance in 2025

Ivy Bridge Architecture for Budget PCs

Key Specifications: The Legacy of 22 nm

The Intel Core i5-3470 processor, released in 2012, remains an example of a successful balance between performance and energy efficiency. Its key specifications are:

- Architecture: Ivy Bridge (3rd generation Core).

- Manufacturing Process: 22 nm.

- Cores/Threads: 4/4 (no Hyper-Threading).

- Base/Boost Clock: 3.2 / 3.6 GHz.

- TDP: 77 W.

- Cache: 6 MB L3.

- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 2500 (not for gaming).

Performance: In the Geekbench 6 test (2025), the processor scores 631 points in single-threaded mode and 1767 in multi-threaded mode. For comparison, modern budget CPUs like the Intel Core i3-12100 (4 cores/8 threads) score around ~1800/6000 points. However, for basic tasks, the i5-3470 is still relevant.

Key Features:

- Support for PCIe 3.0 (relevant for NVMe SSDs via adapters).

- Intel vPro and TXT technologies for corporate security (in 'T' indexed versions).

Compatible Motherboards: Hunting for LGA1155 Socket

The processor uses the LGA1155 socket, which is supported by chipsets:

- H61/B75: Budget motherboards without overclocking, limited support for SATA III and USB 3.0.

- H77/Z75/Z77: Enhanced capabilities (RAID, multiplier overclocking for 'K' indexed models).

Selection Features in 2025:

- New motherboards are no longer produced — look for used options (e.g., ASUS P8Z77-V, Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H).

- Prices for used motherboards: $30–$80 (Z77 is pricier due to overclocking support).

- Important: Update the BIOS to the latest version for compatibility with SSDs and peripherals.

Supported Memory: DDR3 as a Limitation

The i5-3470 operates only with DDR3:

- Officially: DDR3-1333/1600 MHz.

- Maximum Capacity: 32 GB (depends on the motherboard).

Tips:

- Use dual-channel mode (2×8 GB DDR3-1600) for a 10–15% performance boost.

- DDR4/DDR5 are not supported — this is the main limitation for upgrades.

Power Supply: Economy Without Excess

With a TDP of 77 W, the processor is modest in power consumption. Recommendations:

- Integrated Graphics: Power supply of 300–400 W (e.g., be quiet! System Power 10 400W, $45).

- Discrete Graphics Card:

- For GTX 1650 (TDP 75 W) — 450 W.

- For RTX 3050 (TDP 130 W) — 550 W (Corsair CX550, $60).

Important: Avoid cheap power supplies without an 80 Plus certification — risk for system stability.

Pros and Cons: Who Is It Suitable For?

Pros:

- Reliability: Many units have been running for over 10 years.

- Energy Efficiency: Suitable for low-power builds.

- Price: Used processors cost $15–$25 (new ones are unavailable).

Cons:

- Outdated Platform: No support for DDR4, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2.

- Limited Multitasking: 4 threads versus 8+ in modern CPUs.

Use Cases: Where Is the i5-3470 Still Relevant?

1. Office Tasks: Working with documents, browsers, video chats (Zoom, Teams).

2. Media Center: Streaming video (1080p/4K via hardware decoding in VLC).

3. Light Gaming:

- Old games: Skyrim, GTA V on low settings (with GTX 1050 Ti).

- Indie projects: Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight.

4. Server Tasks: NAS or home server based on Linux.

Example: Media center build: i5-3470 + 8 GB DDR3 + 240 GB SSD + GT 1030 = smooth 4K playback.

Comparison with Competitors: The Budget Battle

- AMD FX-8350 (2012): 8 cores, but high TDP (125 W), weaker in single-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Single: ~450).

- Intel Core i5-3570K: Close counterpart with an unlocked multiplier (overclocking to 4.2 GHz), but 20–30% more expensive.

- Modern Alternatives: Intel Core i3-12100 ($120) — 3 times faster in multi-threading, supports DDR4.

Conclusion: The i5-3470 only wins on price but falls short in performance.

Practical Building Tips

1. SSD is Mandatory: Kingston A400 480 GB ($35) will speed up OS boot and operation.

2. Cooling: The boxed cooler is sufficient, but for quiet operation, choose Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($20).

3. Graphics Card: Avoid models more powerful than RTX 3050 — the processor will become a bottleneck.

4. BIOS Update: For support of larger SSDs (over 2 TB) and USB storage devices.

Example of a build for $200 (without a graphics card):

- CPU: i5-3470 ($20 used).

- Motherboard: ASUS H61 ($40 used).

- Memory: 8 GB DDR3 ($15 used).

- SSD: 240 GB ($35).

- PSU: 400 W ($45).

Final Conclusion: Who Is the i5-3470 Suitable for in 2025?

This processor is a choice for:

- Budget Users: Building a PC for $200–$300 for office work or studying.

- Retro Gaming Enthusiasts: Playing games from the 2010s without investing in new hardware.

- Owners of Old Systems: Upgrading without replacing the motherboard.

Why Not? If you need to work with 4K video, modern games, or heavy software — even budget newcomers like the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 ($100) will be preferable.

Conclusion: The Intel Core i5-3470 is an example of a "workhorse" that, despite its age, finds application in niche scenarios. It should only be considered as a temporary solution or a way to save costs, but not as a foundation for future upgrades.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-3470

Code Name

Ivi Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.20 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1155

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

77 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 & 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 2500

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

631

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1767

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

853

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2880

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1941

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4674

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E5-2687W v2

722 +14.4%

3020e

666 +5.5%

Core i5-3470

631

Xeon X5667

591 -6.3%

Core i7-2820QM

554 -12.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1235

2110 +19.4%

Core i7-2760QM

1945 +10.1%

Core i5-3470

1767

Core i7-3632QM

1620 -8.3%

Core i5-2405S

1480 -16.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-14600T

882 +3.4%

Xeon E5-2637 v4

869 +1.9%

Core i5-3470

853

Xeon E3-1245

834 -2.2%

Core i5-3570

816 -4.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E3-1225 v5

3158 +9.7%

Xeon E5-1428L

3040 +5.6%

Core i5-3470

2880

Core i3-9300T

2752 -4.4%

Xeon E5-2630L

2620 -9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-7260U

1987 +2.4%

Core i7-7560U

1963 +1.1%

Core i5-3470

1941

Athlon PRO 300GE

1910 -1.6%

Core i7-1060NG7

1879 -3.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-4712HQ

5354 +14.5%

Xeon E3-1265L v2

5064 +8.3%

Core i5-3470

4674

Xeon X5647

4441 -5%

Core i5-3475S

4250 -9.1%