Home / Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i5-3470S: Performance and Specs

Intel Core i5-3470S

Intel Core i5-3470S: A Budget Veteran in the Era of Modern Technology (2025)

Relevance in 2025: Despite its age, the Intel Core i5-3470S remains a popular choice for ultra-budget builds. This article will examine its strengths and weaknesses, compatibility with modern components, and potential use cases.

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Performance, and Features

Codename and Technology: The processor is built on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture (3rd generation Core) with a 22nm manufacturing process. This is an evolution of Sandy Bridge, featuring improved energy efficiency and integrated graphics.

Cores and Threads: 4 cores / 4 threads (no Hyper-Threading). Base clock speed is 2.9 GHz, with a Turbo Boost maximum of 3.6 GHz.

Performance:

- Geekbench 6 (2025): 646 (Single-Core), 1859 (Multi-Core).

- Real-World Use:

- Handles office applications (Excel, Word) without lag.

- Can manage a browser with 10-15 tabs, but starts to lag during 4K streaming.

- In gaming: CS:GO — 60-80 FPS (on low settings, without a discrete GPU), Fortnite — 30-40 FPS (720p, low).

Key Features:

- Supports PCIe 3.0 (relevant for NVMe SSDs via adapter).

- Integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics (suitable for basic output).

- Turbo Boost 2.0, Virtualization (VT-x), and AES-NI technologies.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket: LGA 1155. New motherboards have not been produced since 2013, but newer unused models can still be found on the market (for example, ASUS P8H61-M LX3 PLUS R2.0 — $45-60).

Chipsets:

- H61/B75: Budget option (USB 3.0 only on B75, restrictions on RAM frequency).

- H77/Z77: Enhanced capabilities (support for SSD caching, RAM overclocking).

Recommendations:

- Choose motherboards with USB 3.0 (B75/H77/Z77) for fast storage devices.

- Check for updated BIOS for compatibility with Windows 11 (modifications are required).

3. Supported Memory

Memory Type: Only DDR3 (not compatible with DDR4/DDR5!).

- Frequencies: Up to 1600 MHz (depending on the chipset).

- Capacity: Up to 32 GB (in practice, 16-24 GB due to motherboard limitations).

Tips:

- Use dual-channel mode (2x8 GB instead of 1x16 GB) for a 10-15% performance boost in gaming.

- Prices for new DDR3 modules (2025): 8 GB — $25-35, 16 GB — $50-65.

4. Power Supply Recommendations

Processor TDP: 65 W.

- Without a discrete GPU: A 300 W PSU is sufficient (for example, be quiet! SFX Power 3 — $45).

- With a graphics card: For GTX 1650 (75 W) or RX 6400 (53 W) — 450 W (EVGA 450 BR — $55).

Important:

- Don't skimp on the power supply! Cheap models (like Apevia) can damage components.

- Look for an 80 Plus Bronze certification and overload protection.

5. Pros and Cons of the Processor

Pros:

- Low power consumption (65 W).

- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.

- Reliability (many units operate for 10+ years).

Cons:

- No DDR4 support, PCIe 4.0.

- Lack of SMT (Hyper-Threading).

- Outdated integrated graphics.

6. Use Case Scenarios

Who it is relevant for in 2025:

- Office PCs: Document work, Zoom, browsing.

- Media Centers: Viewing 1080p video (4K through HDMI 1.4 — only 30 Hz).

- Servers: NAS or home server based on Proxmox/TrueNAS.

- Budget Gaming: With a graphics card addition (GTX 1050 Ti, RX 560).

Example Gaming Build:

- CPU: i5-3470S ($50, new).

- GPU: GTX 1650 ($130).

- RAM: 16 GB DDR3 ($40).

- Total: $220 — plays GTA V on medium settings (60 FPS).

7. Comparison with Competitors

Analogues from 2012-2013:

- AMD Phenom II X4 965: Falls behind in IPC by 20-25%.

- Core i5-3570K: Better overclocking, but higher TDP (77 W).

Modern Competitors (2025):

- Intel Core i3-12100F ($90): 2.5 times faster in single-threaded tasks.

- AMD Ryzen 3 5300G ($100): Integrated Vega 7 graphics (gaming on 1080p Low).

Conclusion: The i5-3470S only wins in price but lags substantially in performance.

8. Practical Building Tips

- SSD is a must: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will eliminate system lags.

- Cooling: The stock cooler will suffice, but for quieter operation, consider the Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($20).

- Motherboard: Look for models with SATA III and USB 3.0 (ASUS P8B75-M LX).

- Upgrade: Don’t invest in the LGA 1155 platform — it's a dead end.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the i5-3470S Suitable For?

Recommended if:

- You need a PC for $150-250 for office work or a child.

- You need a temporary solution before purchasing a modern computer.

- You're building a home server or media center.

Don’t buy if:

- You plan to play Cyberpunk 2077 or work in Blender.

- You want a system for the next 5-7 years.

Alternative for 2025: Mini-PC based on Ryzen 3 5300U ($300) — twice as powerful, with DDR4 support and Wi-Fi 6.

Conclusion: The Intel Core i5-3470S is a legend in the budget segment, but in 2025, it is suited only for narrow tasks. It is a choice for those who prioritize minimal costs over performance.

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.

i5-3470S

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

2.90 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

65 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

646

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1859

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

735

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2344

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1892

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4392

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E5-4669 v3

745 +15.3%

Xeon E5-1620

690 +6.8%

Core i5-3470S

646

PRO A12-9800

610 -5.6%

Xeon E5-2667 v2

570 -11.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-8121U

2250 +21%

Core i5-4440S

2040 +9.7%

Core i5-3470S

1859

Core i5-3450S

1715 -7.7%

PRO A10-8770

1540 -17.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1230L v3

774 +5.3%

Xeon E5-4655 v3

748 +1.8%

Core i5-3470S

735

Ryzen 5 2500U

715 -2.7%

Xeon E5-4660 v3

690 -6.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon X5677

2627 +12.1%

Ryzen 5 2500U

2495 +6.4%

Core i5-3470S

2344

FX-6350

2167 -7.6%

Pentium Gold G6600

2032 -13.3%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2680 v4

1948 +3%

Xeon X5698

1922 +1.6%

Core i5-3470S

1892

Pentium G3258

1857 -1.8%

Core i5-3470T

1812 -4.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-3570K

4953 +12.8%

Core i7-6970HQ

4632 +5.5%

Core i5-3470S

4392

Core i3-6100

4151 -5.5%

Athlon PRO 200GE

3926 -10.6%