AMD Athlon X4 830 vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear, consistent pattern across all five shared benchmark tests: the Intel Core i5-3470T wins every single head-to-head matchup against the AMD Athlon X4 830. The database records five wins for Intel and zero for AMD, with margins that are narrow but uniform across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-3470T scores 256 against the Athlon X4 830's 248, a delta of 3.2%. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where Intel posts 1069 versus AMD's 1035, a 3.3% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test repeats the same story: Intel scores 2547, AMD scores 2465, again a 3.3% delta. These are not large margins, but they are remarkably consistent, suggesting the Intel part holds a steady throughput advantage regardless of the rendering workload.

Single-core results follow the same direction. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel Core i5-3470T scores 150, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 scores 146, a 2.7% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 359 versus AMD's 348, a 3.2% delta. The consistency across every test is notable: Intel wins by roughly 3% in each case, never less than 2.7% and never more than 3.3%. This suggests the performance gap is structural, tied to architectural efficiency rather than workload-specific quirks.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the Intel Core i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 averages 848. That 15-point gap corresponds to a 1.8% difference in aggregate performance. Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall, but the Intel part sits at the top of that tier while AMD sits near the bottom. The Intel's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.1% delta), the AMD A8-7650K at 860 (0.3% delta), and the Intel Core i7-4500U at 859 (0.4% delta). The AMD Athlon X4 830's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3520M at 843 (0.6% delta) and the AMD FX-8800P at 843 (0.6% delta), but it also trails the Intel Xeon X5492 by 0.4% and the Intel Core i5-5250U by 0.9%.

The head-to-head data tells a simple story: the Intel Core i5-3470T outperforms the AMD Athlon X4 830 in every recorded benchmark, with margins that are small but consistent. The AMD part never wins a single test, and the Intel part never loses by even a fraction of a percent. For users comparing these two directly, the data points firmly toward Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 256 versus 248 (3.2% higher). In Cinebench R20, it scores 1069 versus 1035 (3.3% higher). In Cinebench R23, it scores 2547 versus 2465 (3.3% higher).

Q: Is the AMD Athlon X4 830 competitive in single-core performance?

A: The AMD part is close but still loses. The Intel Core i5-3470T scores 150 versus 146 in Cinebench R20 single-core (2.7% higher) and 359 versus 348 in Cinebench R23 single-core (3.2% higher). The AMD never surpasses Intel in any single-core test.

Q: How do these processors compare in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 averages 848. This gives Intel a 1.8% aggregate advantage. Both sit at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the Intel Core i5-3470T?

A: The Intel's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.1% delta), the AMD A8-7650K at 860 (0.3% delta), the Intel Xeon X3460 at 866 (-0.4% delta), and the Intel Core i7-4500U at 859 (0.4% delta). These processors all score within a few points of the Intel Core i5-3470T.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the AMD Athlon X4 830?

A: The AMD's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon X5492 at 852 (-0.4% delta), the Intel Core i7-3520M at 843 (0.6% delta), the AMD FX-8800P at 843 (0.6% delta), and the Intel Core i5-5250U at 856 (-0.9% delta). The AMD sits slightly below the Xeon X5492 and slightly above the Core i7-3520M.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 830 have any benchmark advantage over the Intel Core i5-3470T?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the AMD part across all five head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i5-3470T wins 5 out of 5 matchups. The AMD's highest single-core score (348 in Cinebench R23) is still below Intel's lowest single-core score (359 in the same test).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3470T is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. The AMD Athlon X4 830 never wins a single test, and the Intel part holds a consistent 2.7% to 3.3% advantage across all five head-to-head comparisons. In aggregate, the Intel averages 863 versus AMD's 848, a 1.8% overall lead.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the Intel Core i5-3470T is the clear choice. It wins every multi-core and single-core test in the database, and its average benchmark score is higher. The margins are not dramatic, but they are uniform, which means the Intel part should deliver modestly better performance in both threaded and lightly threaded applications.

The AMD Athlon X4 830 does offer more physical cores (4 versus 2), which might seem advantageous for multithreaded workloads, but the benchmark data does not support that expectation. Despite having double the core count, the AMD part still loses all three multi-core Cinebench tests. The Intel's hyper-threading (4 threads on 2 cores) combined with its architectural efficiency appears to compensate for the core deficit.

Neither processor is a performance standout. Both sit at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their average scores (863 and 848) place them among entry-level desktop parts. The Intel Xeon W3520, a rival to the Intel part, scores 862, essentially identical. The AMD part's closest rival, the Intel Xeon X5492, scores 852, slightly higher. The practical difference between these two processors is small, but it consistently favors Intel.

Users who already own an AMD Socket FM2+ motherboard might prefer the Athlon X4 830 for platform continuity, but purely on benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3470T is the better processor. The choice is straightforward: if performance matters, the data says Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i5-3470T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel runs at a base clock of 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, whereas the AMD runs at a base clock of 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Intel has a 35 W TDP, while the AMD has a 65 W TDP, a 30 W difference.

They use different sockets: the Intel uses Intel Socket 1155, the AMD uses AMD Socket FM2+. The Intel is built on a 22 nm process node by Intel with a die size of 93.6 mm², while the AMD is built on a 28 nm process node by GlobalFoundries with a die size of 245 mm² and 2,411 million transistors. The Intel has 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 cache per core, plus 3 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD has 256 KB L1 cache and 4 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed.

Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but the AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s while the Intel does not list a bandwidth figure. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel has integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), while the AMD has none listed. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel does not. The Intel has a release date of 2012-05-31, while the AMD's release date is not recorded. The AMD is marked end-of-life, while the Intel's production status is not listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is substantial. The Intel Core i5-3470T is based on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm architecture from Intel. It uses a per-core cache layout: 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The die size is 93.6 mm², and the processor is fabricated by Intel itself. The architecture supports 4 threads on 2 cores via hyper-threading, which appears to be the key reason it edges out the 4-core AMD in multi-threaded tests.

The AMD Athlon X4 830 is based on Steamroller, a 28 nm architecture from GlobalFoundries, with the codename Kaveri. It has a larger die at 245 mm² and a massive 2,411 million transistor count, reflecting a more complex integrated design. The cache layout is simpler: 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache. The AMD has 4 physical cores but no hyper-threading, so it offers 4 threads total, the same thread count as the Intel but across more physical cores.

The Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture appears to deliver higher instructions per clock, which explains why it wins single-core tests despite a lower base clock (2.90 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and a boost clock that is higher (3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz). The AMD's Steamroller architecture, while physically larger and more transistor-dense, does not translate that complexity into higher benchmark scores. The Intel's smaller die and lower TDP (35 W versus 65 W) suggest better power efficiency, though the database does not record direct power measurements.

The AMD's unlocked multiplier is a notable architectural feature, allowing overclocking, while the Intel's multiplier is locked. However, the benchmark data reflects stock configurations only. The Intel's integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500) provide a functionality advantage for systems without a discrete GPU, while the AMD has no integrated graphics listed.

Both processors support DDR3 dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, so platform-level connectivity is similar. The AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, which the Intel does not specify. The fundamental architectural difference, smaller 22 nm Intel design versus larger 28 nm AMD design, correlates with the benchmark outcome: the Intel wins despite fewer cores, and the AMD cannot overcome its core-count advantage due to lower per-core efficiency.