Intel Core i3-1000NG4 vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i5-3470T. Across five Cinebench comparisons, the i3-1000NG4 takes all five, while the i5-3470T records zero wins. This is not a narrow or situational advantage; it is a systematic performance lead that holds across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The i3-1000NG4’s strongest showing comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 177 against the i5-3470T’s 150, a delta of 18 percent. That single-core lead matters for lightly threaded applications, such as older games, spreadsheet operations, or any workload that depends on a single thread’s responsiveness. The i3-1000NG4 also leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 17.6 percent, scoring 301 versus 256, and in R20 multi-core by 17.4 percent, scoring 1255 versus 1069. The R23 results mirror this pattern: multi-core shows 2989 versus 2547, a 17.4 percent advantage, and single-core shows 422 versus 359, a 17.5 percent edge.

The i5-3470T, despite being a desktop part with a higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 1.10 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz), cannot overcome the architectural efficiency of the newer i3. The data shows that raw clock speed alone does not dictate benchmark outcomes. The i3-1000NG4’s wins are consistent across every Cinebench generation, suggesting that the performance gap is not an artifact of a single test version but a fundamental difference in execution efficiency.

In terms of overall standing, both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close: the i3-1000NG4 averages 881, while the i5-3470T averages 863. The i3-1000NG4’s nearest rivals include the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T and AMD Athlon Silver 7120U, both with an average score of 881, and the Intel Core i7-930 at 882, a 0.1 percent deficit. The i5-3470T’s nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.1 percent ahead of the i5), the AMD A8-7650K at 860 (0.3 percent ahead), and the Intel Xeon X3460 at 866 (0.4 percent behind). This places both chips in similar company, but the i3-1000NG4 edges ahead in average score by 18 points.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward: if benchmark performance in Cinebench is the criterion, the i3-1000NG4 is the superior choice in every measured scenario. The i5-3470T does not win any category. However, the i5-3470T’s desktop socket and higher base clock may be relevant for users with existing LGA 1155 platforms, though the data does not include platform-level comparisons.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The i3-1000NG4 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-Y codename, built on a 10 nm process node. The i5-3470T uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, also the codename for the design, built on a 22 nm process node. This process difference is significant: the 10 nm node allows for denser transistors and lower power consumption per unit of work, which partly explains why the i3-1000NG4 achieves higher scores despite a much lower thermal design power.

The i3-1000NG4 has a thermal design power (TDP) of 9 watts, while the i5-3470T has a TDP of 35 watts. That is a substantial difference in power envelope, and it correlates with the intended market segments. The i3-1000NG4 is a mobile part, designed for thin and light laptops, while the i5-3470T is a desktop part from 2012. Despite the i5-3470T drawing nearly four times the power budget, it still loses every benchmark, which highlights the efficiency gains of the newer microarchitecture.

Cache configurations differ as well. The i3-1000NG4 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-3470T has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-1000NG4 therefore has more L1 per core and a larger total L3 pool. Both chips have dual-channel memory buses, but the i3-1000NG4 supports DDR4 memory, while the i5-3470T supports DDR3. The memory type difference reflects the platform generation, with DDR4 offering higher bandwidth potential, though the database does not include measured bandwidth figures.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i3-1000NG4 includes Iris Plus with 48 execution units (48EU), while the i5-3470T includes Intel HD 2500. The i3-1000NG4’s integrated graphics are more capable, consistent with its newer architecture and higher EU count, though the database does not provide specific graphics benchmark scores.

The socket and form factor are distinct: the i3-1000NG4 uses Intel BGA 1044, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop LGA socket. The i5-3470T’s PCIe support is listed as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-1000NG4 is simply listed as Gen 3. The i5-3470T’s desktop socket allows for user upgrades or replacements, whereas the i3-1000NG4 is fixed to the motherboard.

Die size also differs: the i3-1000NG4 measures 123 mm², while the i5-3470T measures 93.6 mm². The larger die on the newer part is curious given the smaller process node, but it likely reflects the more complex integrated graphics and additional logic blocks. Transaction counts are not recorded in the database, so no comparison is possible there.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data consists of five Cinebench tests, and the i3-1000NG4 wins all five. The deltas are remarkably consistent, ranging from 17.4 to 18 percent. This uniformity suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a test-specific fluke.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-1000NG4 scores 301 against 256 for the i5-3470T, a 17.6 percent lead. This is the smallest absolute gap in points (45 points), but the percentage is in line with the others. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 1255 and 1069, a 17.4 percent delta. The R23 multi-core test shows 2989 versus 2547, again 17.4 percent. The multi-core consistency is notable because both chips have the same core and thread counts: 2 cores and 4 threads each. With identical thread counts, the difference must come from per-thread efficiency, memory subsystem, or cache hierarchy.

Single-core tests tell the same story. In R20 single-core, the i3-1000NG4 scores 177 versus 150, an 18 percent lead. In R23 single-core, the scores are 422 versus 359, a 17.5 percent delta. These single-core results are particularly informative because they eliminate any possibility of multi-threading scaling differences; a single thread on the i3-1000NG4 is simply faster than a single thread on the i5-3470T, despite the i5-3470T having a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz).

The i5-3470T does have one benchmark not shared by the i3-1000NG4: Geekbench. The i5-3470T scores 1102 in Geekbench multi-core and 560 in Geekbench single-core. However, since the i3-1000NG4 has no Geekbench scores in the database, a direct comparison is not possible. The absence of this data means the head-to-head record is exclusively Cinebench-based.

The significance of the i3-1000NG4’s win is amplified by the power disparity. The i5-3470T has a 35 W TDP, nearly four times the i3-1000NG4’s 9 W. Achieving a 17 to 18 percent performance lead while consuming a fraction of the power indicates a generational leap in efficiency. The i3-1000NG4’s higher average benchmark score (881 versus 863) reinforces this, though the percentile ranking is identical at 23 percent.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based solely on the recorded data:

• Base clock: The i3-1000NG4 runs at 1.10 GHz, while the i5-3470T runs at 2.90 GHz. The i5-3470T has a higher base clock by 1.80 GHz.
• Boost clock: The i3-1000NG4 boosts to 3.20 GHz, while the i5-3470T boosts to 3.60 GHz. The i5-3470T is 0.40 GHz higher.
• TDP: The i3-1000NG4 is rated at 9 W, the i5-3470T at 35 W.
• Socket: The i3-1000NG4 uses Intel BGA 1044; the i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155.
• Architecture: Ice Lake (codename Ice Lake-Y) versus Ivy Bridge.
• Process node: 10 nm versus 22 nm.
• Die size: 123 mm² versus 93.6 mm².
• L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core.
• L3 cache: 4 MB shared versus 3 MB shared.
• Memory support: DDR4 versus DDR3.
• Integrated graphics: Iris Plus (48EU) versus Intel HD 2500.
• Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop.
• Release date: The i3-1000NG4 released in 2020-03-17; the i5-3470T released in 2012-05-31.
• Part number: SRGM9 versus SR0RJ.
• Production status: The i3-1000NG4 is end-of-life; the i5-3470T’s status is not recorded.
• PCIe: The i5-3470T specifies Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the i3-1000NG4 lists only Gen 3.

Identical specifications include core count (2), thread count (4), L2 cache (256 KB per core), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false for both), and unlocked multiplier (false for both). Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-1000NG4 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R15, it scores 301 versus 256 (17.6 percent ahead); in R20, 1255 versus 1069 (17.4 percent ahead); in R23, 2989 versus 2547 (17.4 percent ahead).

Q: Does the i5-3470T win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The head-to-head record is 5 wins for the i3-1000NG4 and 0 wins for the i5-3470T across all five Cinebench tests.

Q: How do their overall average scores compare?

A: The i3-1000NG4 has an average benchmark score of 881, while the i5-3470T averages 863. Both sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference, and does it affect performance?

A: The i3-1000NG4 has a TDP of 9 W, while the i5-3470T has a TDP of 35 W. Despite the i5-3470T having a much higher power budget, it loses all benchmarks, indicating that the i3-1000NG4 is far more power-efficient.

Q: Are the core and thread counts the same?

A: Yes, both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads. This means the performance difference is due to architectural efficiency, cache size, and memory support, not core count.

Q: Which processor supports newer memory?

A: The i3-1000NG4 supports DDR4 memory, while the i5-3470T supports DDR3. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.