AMD EPYC 7282 vs Intel Core i5-3470 Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7282 and the Intel Core i5-3470 represent two very different eras and purposes in processor design. The EPYC 7282 is a modern, high-core-count server processor built for massive parallel workloads, while the Core i5-3470 is an older, quad-core desktop chip from the Ivy Bridge generation. The benchmark data in the database shows a complete sweep in favor of the EPYC 7282 across all recorded Cinebench tests, but the magnitude of those wins and the architectural context reveal a stark contrast in intended use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark results show no scenario where the Intel Core i5-3470 outperforms the AMD EPYC 7282. The EPYC 7282 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with wins ranging from 547.4% to 550% deltas. This is not a marginal victory; it is a generational and architectural gap that manifests across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

The EPYC 7282's dominance is most pronounced in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 25,616 versus the Core i5-3470's 3,957, a 547.4% advantage. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the EPYC 7282 posts 10,758 against the Intel chip's 1,661, a 547.7% delta. These results confirm the EPYC 7282's design as a server/workstation processor with 16 cores and 32 threads, capable of sustaining heavy parallel processing.

Even in single-core tests, where the Core i5-3470's higher base clock might suggest some competitiveness, the EPYC 7282 wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7282 scores 3,616 versus 558 for the Intel chip, a 548% delta. The Core i5-3470's 3.20 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks cannot overcome the EPYC 7282's newer Zen 2 architecture and superior IPC (instructions per clock). The data indicates that for any workload captured in these benchmarks, the EPYC 7282 is the clear choice.

The Core i5-3470's only "win" is in its market segment and legacy status. It is a desktop processor with integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), while the EPYC 7282 has no integrated graphics. For a user building a simple desktop system from that era, the Core i5-3470 would have been sufficient, but the database's benchmark suite shows no performance scenario where it prevails.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is vast, reflecting a near-decade of semiconductor advancement. The AMD EPYC 7282 is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, packing 7,600 million transistors across a dual-die design with each die measuring 74 mm². It uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, and is part of the EPYC 7002 series. The Intel Core i5-3470, by contrast, uses Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a single 160 mm² die, based on the Ivy Bridge architecture.

The EPYC 7282 features 16 cores and 32 threads, a massive parallel configuration for server workloads. It has a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB, per-core L2 cache of 512 KB, and 32 MB of L3 cache per die, totaling 64 MB across both dies. The Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The difference in cache allocation is fundamental: the EPYC 7282's total L3 cache is over 10 times larger.

Memory support further separates them. The EPYC 7282 uses DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, along with ECC support. The Core i5-3470 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: the EPYC 7282 offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes, while the Core i5-3470 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The EPYC 7282's socket is AMD Socket SP3, designed for server platforms, whereas the Core i5-3470 uses the older Intel Socket 1155.

The production status tells the story of lifecycle: the EPYC 7282 is active and current, while the Core i5-3470 is end-of-life. The EPYC 7282 was released in August 2019, while the Core i5-3470 launched in May 2012. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, but the EPYC 7282's server positioning makes overclocking irrelevant in its intended use.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 7282 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This 4x core and 8x thread difference is the primary driver of the multi-core benchmark results.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The EPYC 7282 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Core i5-3470 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The EPYC 7282 offers more than three times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470 includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7282 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors that rely on discrete GPU or compute accelerators.

Q: What is the process node and transistor count?

A: The EPYC 7282 is manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process with 7,600 million transistors. The Core i5-3470 uses Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors. The EPYC 7282's smaller node and higher transistor count enable its higher core count and efficiency.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD EPYC 7282 supports ECC memory, which is a critical feature for server and workstation reliability. The Intel Core i5-3470 does not support ECC.

Q: What are the PCIe lane counts?

A: The EPYC 7282 provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Core i5-3470 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes the EPYC 7282 suitable for high-bandwidth expansion in servers.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are extensive and define their divergent roles:

• Cores: 16 (EPYC 7282) vs 4 (Core i5-3470)
• Threads: 32 vs 4
• Base Clock: 2.80 GHz vs 3.20 GHz
• Boost Clock: 3.20 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
• TDP: 120 W vs 77 W
• Socket: AMD Socket SP3 vs Intel Socket 1155
• Architecture: Zen 2 (Rome) vs Ivy Bridge
• Process Node: 7 nm (TSMC) vs 22 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: 7,600 million vs 1,400 million
• Die Size: 2x 74 mm² vs 160 mm²
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core vs 256 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 32 MB per die (64 MB total) vs 6 MB shared
• Memory Support: DDR4 vs DDR3
• Memory Bus: Eight-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Yes vs No
• PCIe: Gen 4, 128 lanes vs Gen 3, 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: None vs Intel HD 2500
• Market Segment: Server/Workstation vs Desktop
• Production Status: Active vs End-of-life
• Release Date: 2019-08-06 vs 2012-05-31
• Part Number: 100-000000078 vs SR0T8

The TDP difference is notable: the EPYC 7282 draws 120 W while delivering far more cores, while the Core i5-3470's 77 W reflects its older, less efficient architecture. The die size difference (148 mm² combined for EPYC vs 160 mm² for Intel) is remarkable given the transistor count disparity, underscoring the density advantage of 7 nm.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are uniform: the AMD EPYC 7282 wins every test, with deltas ranging from 547.4% to 550%. The largest percentage win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the EPYC 7282 scores 364 against the Core i5-3470's 56, a 550% delta. This is surprising because single-core tests typically favor higher clock speeds, but the EPYC 7282's Zen 2 architecture overcomes the Core i5-3470's 0.4 GHz clock advantage.

In multi-core tests, the deltas are similarly extreme. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the EPYC 7282 at 2,581 versus 398, a 548.5% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 10,758 versus 1,661, a 547.7% delta. The smallest delta in the set is Cinebench R23 multi-core at 547.4%, with scores of 25,616 and 3,957. These results confirm that the EPYC 7282 is roughly 6.5 times faster in multi-core rendering workloads.

The single-core scores follow the same pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1,518 versus 234, a 548.7% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3,616 versus 558, a 548% delta. The consistency of the deltas across all six tests, all hovering around 548%, suggests a fundamental architectural superiority rather than a workload-specific advantage. The EPYC 7282's 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with its newer process node and larger caches, deliver a decisive performance lead in every measured scenario.

The Core i5-3470's best relative performance is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it still loses by 547.4%. Its worst relative performance is in Cinebench R15 single-core, losing by 550%. Neither test reveals any area where the Intel chip can compete, even in the single-threaded tests that historically favored Intel's higher clocks.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 7282 outperforms the Intel Core i5-3470 in every benchmark recorded, with deltas exceeding 547% in all cases. The EPYC 7282 is designed for server and workstation environments where its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4 memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes are essential. The Core i5-3470, with its 4 cores, 4 threads, 6 MB L3 cache, and dual-channel DDR3, is a legacy desktop part that has been end-of-life since its 2012 release.

For users with workloads that scale across cores, such as rendering, virtualization, or database processing, the EPYC 7282 is the only reasonable choice based on the benchmark evidence. Its 548% average advantage in Cinebench tests reflects a processor that is not merely incrementally faster but categorically different in capability. The Core i5-3470's only advantages are its lower TDP (77 W versus 120 W) and its integrated graphics, neither of which is relevant for the server tasks the EPYC 7282 targets.

The database's percentile rankings place both processors at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, which is a measure of their average benchmark scores relative to the entire pool. This similarity in percentile is misleading, as it reflects the EPYC 7282's higher average score of 7,409 against the Core i5-3470's 6,906, but both land in the same percentile band due to the distribution of scores. The nearest rivals data reinforces this: the EPYC 7282 sits near the Intel Core i9-9990XE (delta -0.1%) and Core i5-4570 (delta -0.2%), while the Core i5-3470 is near the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (delta -0.4%) and Intel Core i3-1115G4 (delta 0.8%).

In practical terms, anyone still relying on a Core i5-3470 for compute-intensive tasks would see a dramatic improvement by moving to the EPYC 7282, but the platform change (socket, memory, PCIe) is substantial. The EPYC 7282 is an active, current product with server-grade features; the Core i5-3470 is a retired desktop chip. The verdict from the data is simple: the EPYC 7282 wins on every measured axis, and the Core i5-3470 should only be considered for legacy desktop systems where its lower power draw and integrated graphics are sufficient. For any workload captured in the benchmark suite, the EPYC 7282 is the superior processor.