AMD Athlon PRO 3045B vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a sharply split picture between these two dual-core, four-thread processors. The Intel Core i5-3470T claims victory in five of the seven head-to-head tests, but the two wins for the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B are decisive and reveal a significant divergence in workload behavior.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Intel part establishes a consistent, narrow lead across every iteration. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3470T scores 256 against the Athlon’s 237, a margin of 7.4%. That pattern repeats almost identically in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel wins 1069 to 988, again by 7.6%. The single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: the i5-3470T posts 150 in R20 single-core versus 139 for the Athlon, a 7.3% advantage, and in R23 single-core the Intel part leads 359 to 332, a 7.5% gap. The R23 multicore test shows 2547 for Intel against 2354 for AMD, holding the same 7.6% delta. These are uniform, consistent margins across the entire Cinebench family, suggesting a fundamental throughput advantage for the Intel architecture in this rendering workload.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B scores 1287, which is 16.8% ahead of the i5-3470T’s 1102. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: AMD posts 766 versus Intel’s 560, a commanding 36.8% advantage. This is not a marginal difference; it is a massive gap that indicates the Athlon’s Zen architecture handles the Geekbench workload far more efficiently than the older Ivy Bridge design.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this split. The Athlon PRO 3045B averages 872 across all tests, while the i5-3470T averages 863. That is a razor-thin 1% difference in overall average, but it masks the extreme variance: the AMD part wins one test by nearly 37% and loses five tests by roughly 7.5% each. The Intel part’s average is pulled up by its consistent Cinebench performance, while the AMD part’s average is buoyed by its Geekbench dominance.

Looking at the nearest rivals provides additional context for these scores. The Athlon’s 872 average places it within 0.1% of the Intel Atom C5315 (871) and 0.5% below the Intel Core i3-5157U (877). It sits 0.6% above both the Intel Core i7-3540M and the Intel Xeon X3460, each at 867 and 866 respectively. The i5-3470T’s 863 average is 0.1% above the Intel Xeon W3520 (862), 0.3% above the AMD A8-7650K (860), 0.4% below the Intel Xeon X3460 (866), and 0.4% above the Intel Core i7-4500U (859). Both processors land in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their divergent workload profiles.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural eras and design philosophies. The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Dali codename, using a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3470T uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process from Intel, with a much smaller 93.6 mm² die and no transistor count listed in the data.

Cache configurations differ notably. The AMD part allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has smaller per-core allocations: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, with 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor therefore provides double the L2 cache per core and 33% more total L3 cache, which likely contributes to its Geekbench advantage.

Memory support is another clear differentiator. The Athlon PRO 3045B supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The i5-3470T uses DDR3 memory with dual-channel access, but no memory bandwidth figure is provided in the data, and it lacks ECC support entirely.

The integrated graphics solutions differ as well. AMD pairs the Athlon with Radeon Vega (2CU) graphics, while Intel integrates HD 2500 graphics. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither offers overclocking flexibility. The AMD part targets the mobile segment with a 15 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop chip with a 35 W TDP. This is a substantial power difference: the AMD processor draws less than half the thermal envelope of the Intel part.

PCIe support also differs. The AMD processor provides Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has a 33% advantage in available PCIe lanes, which could matter for discrete GPU or NVMe expansion in a desktop system.

The manufacturing timeline is another divide. The Intel i5-3470T was released on 2012-05-31, while the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B has no release date listed in the data. The AMD part remains in active production, while the Intel part’s production status is not specified. The AMD processor’s part number is YM3045C4T2OFG, and the Intel’s is SR0RJ.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B has an average benchmark score of 872, while the Intel Core i5-3470T averages 863. The AMD part leads by 9 points, or roughly 1%.

Q: How large is the Intel processor’s lead in Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T wins all five Cinebench tests by margins ranging from 7.3% to 7.6%. In R20 multicore, it scores 1069 versus 988, and in R23 multicore it scores 2547 versus 2354.

Q: What explains the AMD processor’s Geekbench dominance?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B wins Geekbench single-core by 36.8% (766 vs 560) and Geekbench multicore by 16.8% (1287 vs 1102). The Zen architecture’s larger cache hierarchy—512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB, and 4 MB L3 versus 3 MB—likely contributes to this advantage.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B and the Intel Core i5-3470T have 2 cores and 4 threads. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-3470T does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Core i5-3470T has a TDP of 35 W. The AMD part is rated for the mobile segment, while the Intel part is a desktop processor.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B and the Intel Core i5-3470T:

• Base Clock: AMD 2.30 GHz vs Intel 2.90 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 3.20 GHz vs Intel 3.60 GHz
• TDP: AMD 15 W vs Intel 35 W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP5 vs Intel Socket 1155
• Architecture: Zen vs Ivy Bridge
• Codename: Dali vs Ivy Bridge
• Process Node: 14 nm vs 22 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs Intel
• Transistors: 3,500 million vs not specified
• Die Size: 148 mm² vs 93.6 mm²
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core vs 64 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core vs 256 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 4 MB shared vs 3 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4 vs DDR3
• Memory Bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s vs not specified
• ECC Memory: Supported vs not supported
• PCIe: Gen 3, 12 lanes vs Gen 3, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega (2CU) vs Intel HD 2500
• Market Segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Production Status: Active vs not specified
• Release Date: not specified vs 2012-05-31
• Part Number: YM3045C4T2OFG vs SR0RJ

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct usage profiles. The Intel Core i5-3470T is the stronger choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, where it holds a consistent 7.3-7.6% lead across all five tests. Its higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs 2.30 GHz) and boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.20 GHz) give it a raw frequency advantage that translates directly into Cinebench performance. The Intel part also offers more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12), which is relevant for desktop expansion.

The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B is the better pick for Geekbench-style general-purpose workloads, where it wins by 16.8% in multicore and an overwhelming 36.8% in single-core. Its larger cache hierarchy and DDR4 memory support provide a clear architectural advantage in these tests. The AMD part is also dramatically more power-efficient, with a 15 W TDP versus 35 W for Intel, making it the appropriate choice for mobile or thermally constrained systems. Its ECC memory support adds value for reliability-sensitive applications.

Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs and have nearly identical average scores (872 vs 863). The choice comes down to workload: rendering favors Intel, general-purpose and efficiency favor AMD. The Athlon’s active production status and modern architecture suggest it is the more future-proof option, while the i5-3470T’s 2012 release date indicates a legacy platform. For a new system, the AMD part’s combination of efficiency, modern memory support, and Geekbench performance makes it the more compelling all-rounder, despite conceding the Cinebench crown.