AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X vs Intel Core i5-3470 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a decisive picture: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i5-3470, across all eight recorded tests. The scale of the victory varies by workload, but the direction never changes.

The largest gaps appear in multi-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Threadripper scores 25,040 against the i5-3470's 3,957, a difference of 84.2%. That same 84.2% delta repeats in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,523 versus 398) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (10,516 versus 1,661). The consistency of that exact percentage across all three Cinebench multi-core tests is striking: the Threadripper's advantage is essentially uniform regardless of the Cinebench version used.

Single-core Cinebench results show a similar, though slightly larger, deficit for the Intel chip. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Threadripper scores 356 versus 56, again an 84.3% gap. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1,484 versus 234, an 84.2% delta, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3,535 versus 558, also 84.2%. The i5-3470 is roughly six times slower in these tests, a margin that reflects both architectural age and clock speed differences.

Geekbench results narrow the gap somewhat, at least in percentage terms. In Geekbench multi-core, the Threadripper's 8,469 dwarfs the i5-3470's 2,015, a 76.2% difference. The single-core Geekbench test is the closest contest in the entire comparison: 1,255 versus 715, a 43% delta. That is still a comfortable win for AMD, but it shows that the older Intel architecture is relatively less disadvantaged in lightly threaded, shorter-duration workloads.

Notably, the PassMark benchmark suite has no head-to-head entries in the database for this pair. The i5-3470 has 13 recorded PassMark results, including a single-thread score of 1,935 and a multithread score of 4,669, while the Threadripper has no PassMark scores recorded. The comparison therefore rests entirely on the Cinebench and Geekbench results, which are uniformly one-sided.

The average benchmark score tells a slightly different story than the head-to-head tests. The i5-3470's average benchmark score is 6,906, which actually exceeds the Threadripper's 6,647. That counterintuitive result reflects the different benchmark suites each CPU has been tested with: the i5-3470's PassMark scores, particularly its data compression result of 73,224, pull its average upward, while the Threadripper's recorded scores are dominated by Cinebench and Geekbench results with lower absolute values. Both chips sit near the 63rd and 62nd percentiles of all CPUs respectively, a narrow 1-point gap in percentile terms.

The nearest rivals in the database reinforce the oddity of that average score. The i5-3470 sits within 0.5% of the Intel Xeon W-2195, AMD Ryzen 3 3200G, Intel Core i9-9960X, and Intel Core i3-1115G4. The Threadripper's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13400E and Intel Core i9-12900E, with deltas of 0.1% and 0.5% respectively. The Threadripper's closest competitor in the database, the Intel Core i9-9940X, sits just 0.1% ahead in average score.

Where Each One Wins

There is no workload category where the Intel Core i5-3470 comes out ahead in the recorded data. The Threadripper wins every benchmark, every category, and every test type.

The Threadripper's biggest advantages come in heavily multithreaded rendering and compute workloads. Cinebench R23 multi-core, which stresses all available threads for extended periods, shows the full 84.2% gap. This is the kind of workload that benefits most from the Threadripper's 16 cores and 32 threads, a 4x core count and 8x thread count advantage over the i5-3470's 4 cores and 4 threads. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or scientific simulations, the Threadripper's dominance in these tests is the deciding factor.

The i5-3470's relative best showing is in Geekbench single-core, where the gap narrows to 43%. Even here, the Threadripper wins by a substantial margin, but the smaller delta hints at the older chip's comparatively stronger single-threaded efficiency relative to its own multi-threaded performance. The i5-3470's single-thread scores in Cinebench are proportionally better than its multi-thread scores when compared to the Threadripper's own single-versus-multi scaling, though the absolute numbers still favor AMD decisively.

For legacy software that runs on a single thread or for everyday desktop responsiveness, the i5-3470's 3.60 GHz boost clock is respectable for its era, but the Threadripper's 4.40 GHz boost clock, combined with its newer architecture, overcomes the clock speed parity argument entirely. The data shows no scenario, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, where the Intel chip closes the gap to a competitive margin.

The Threadripper also holds a significant advantage in memory bandwidth, with a quad-channel DDR4 interface delivering 93.9 GB/s against the i5-3470's dual-channel DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s. Memory-bound workloads would amplify the Threadripper's lead beyond what even the CPU core benchmarks suggest, though the recorded benchmark data does not include a dedicated memory bandwidth test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different eras of CPU design, separated by six years of process and microarchitecture improvements. The i5-3470 is built on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture at 22 nm, while the Threadripper uses AMD's Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, at 12 nm. The foundry differs as well: Intel fabricates the i5-3470 in-house, while GlobalFoundries produces the Threadripper.

The transistor counts illustrate the scale difference. The i5-3470 packs 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Threadripper uses 9,600 million transistors spread across two 213 mm² dies, a combined die area of 426 mm². That is roughly 6.9 times more transistors and 2.7 times more silicon area for the AMD part.

Core and thread counts differ by a factor of four and eight respectively. The i5-3470 offers 4 cores and 4 threads with no simultaneous multithreading. The Threadripper offers 16 cores and 32 threads. Cache hierarchies scale accordingly: the i5-3470 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Threadripper has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 cache. Per-core cache amounts are larger on the AMD chip, and the total L3 is more than five times greater.

Clock speeds favor the Threadripper on both ends. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz against the i5-3470's 3.20 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.40 GHz against 3.60 GHz. The Threadripper also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i5-3470 is locked. Thermal design power reflects the performance gap: 180 W for the Threadripper versus 77 W for the i5-3470.

Memory support is a major generational divide. The i5-3470 uses DDR3 in dual-channel configuration, while the Threadripper uses DDR4 in quad-channel. Memory bandwidth jumps from 25.6 GB/s to 93.9 GB/s, a 3.7x improvement. Neither chip supports ECC memory according to the database.

PCIe connectivity also differs substantially. The i5-3470 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. The Threadripper provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This difference matters for multi-GPU setups, NVMe storage arrays, and other high-bandwidth peripherals.

The i5-3470 includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2500, a feature the Threadripper lacks entirely. The AMD chip requires a discrete GPU. The i5-3470's integrated graphics make it usable in a basic desktop without a graphics card, while the Threadripper is strictly a high-end workstation part.

Production status differs as well: the i5-3470 is end-of-life, while the Threadripper remains listed as active. The i5-3470 launched in May 2012 with a launch MSRP of $184. The Threadripper launched in August 2018 with a launch MSRP of $899. The part numbers are SR0T8 for Intel and YD295XA8UGAAF for AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X is dramatically faster in every multi-core test. It leads by 84.2% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, and by 76.2% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3470 win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the i5-3470 across all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Threadripper wins every test.

Q: How close is the single-core performance?

A: The closest result is Geekbench single-core, where the Threadripper leads by 43% (1,255 versus 715). In Cinebench single-core tests, the gap is consistently 84.2% or 84.3% in favor of the Threadripper.

Q: Why does the i5-3470 have a higher average benchmark score than the Threadripper?

A: The i5-3470's average score of 6,906 exceeds the Threadripper's 6,647 because the Intel chip has PassMark results recorded, including a data compression score of 73,224, while the Threadripper's recorded benchmarks are limited to Cinebench and Geekbench tests.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Threadripper has 16 cores and 32 threads, four times the cores and eight times the threads.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the i5-3470 nor the Threadripper supports ECC memory according to the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3470 | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 4 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 77 W | 180 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket SP3r2 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Zen+ |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Colfax |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 9,600 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 2x 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 32 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 93.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 60 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2012-05-31 | 2018-08-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $184 | $899 |

| Part Number | SR0T8 | YD295XA8UGAAF |

The specification table shows a generational leap across every major category. The Threadripper doubles or quadruples the core resources, nearly doubles the clock speeds, uses a smaller process node, supports faster and wider memory, and offers more than triple the PCIe lanes. The only feature the i5-3470 retains exclusively is its integrated GPU, which the Threadripper omits in favor of a discrete-GPU-only design. The 180 W TDP of the Threadripper versus the 77 W TDP of the i5-3470 indicates the power cost of that performance, but the benchmark data shows the performance scales accordingly.