Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Core i5-3470 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i3-1115G4 represent two very different eras of Intel silicon, and their benchmark data reflects that divide clearly. The i5-3470 is a desktop quad-core from the Ivy Bridge generation, while the i3-1115G4 is a mobile dual-core from Tiger Lake. Despite the i5’s extra physical cores, the i3 wins the vast majority of head-to-head tests, but the i5 still holds a few surprising victories where its older architecture proves more capable in specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison is in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-1115G4 scores 1330 against the i5-3470’s 715, a massive 46.2% advantage. This is the single largest delta between the two chips in any test and underscores how far single-thread performance has advanced in eight years. The i3 also dominates in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 696 versus 558, a 19.8% lead. Across all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), the i3 wins both single- and multi-core by roughly 20%, with deltas ranging from 19.8% to 20%.

In multi-threaded workloads, the i3’s two cores with four threads still outpace the i5’s four cores with four threads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result shows the i3 at 4933 versus the i5 at 3957, a 19.8% gap. Similarly, Geekbench multi-core favors the i3 2465 to 2015, an 18.3% lead. The PassMark multithread test tells the same story: 5915 for the i3 versus 4669 for the i5, a 21.1% difference. The i3’s higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, combined with a newer architecture, lets it overcome its core deficit.

The i5-3470 does secure four wins, and they are not trivial. In PassMark data compression, the i5 scores 73224 against the i3’s 62444, a 17.3% margin. In PassMark random string sorting, the i5 wins 9004 to 7662, a 17.5% edge. The i5 also takes PassMark find prime numbers (28 vs 25, a 12% lead) and PassMark floating point math (10871 vs 10791, a slim 0.7% margin). These wins suggest that the i5’s four physical cores are better suited to certain integer and memory-bound operations, even though the i3’s newer cores are faster per clock.

The i3’s most dominant win outside Geekbench is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 3339 versus the i5’s 1189, a staggering 64.4% advantage. This is likely due to newer AES-NI instructions and architectural improvements. The i3 also leads in PassMark extended instructions by 22.7% (4588 vs 3548) and PassMark integer math by 15.1% (17472 vs 14840). In PassMark physics, the i3 wins 410 to 378, a 7.8% margin, and in PassMark single thread, it wins 2585 to 1935, a 25.1% lead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The i5-3470 uses Ivy Bridge, built on Intel’s 22 nm process, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. It supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

The i3-1115G4 is based on Tiger Lake-U, using the newer 10 nm process, with a die size of 144 mm². It has only 2 cores but 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its L1 cache is larger at 80 KB per core, and L2 jumps to 1.25 MB per core, while L3 remains 6 MB shared. It supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is provided. The i3 uses Willow Cove-U cores, which feature significant IPC improvements over Ivy Bridge.

The i5 has a 77 W TDP and uses the desktop Intel Socket 1155, while the i3 has a 15 W TDP and uses Intel BGA 1449, confirming its mobile and soldered nature. The i5 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i3 supports PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5 has Intel HD 2500, while the i3 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, a far more capable iGPU for media and light gaming. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as not supporting ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1115G4 is the clear winner for any workload that benefits from high single-thread performance or modern instruction sets. Its 46.2% lead in Geekbench single-core and 25.1% lead in PassMark single-thread make it the better choice for everyday responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and lightly threaded software. The 64.4% advantage in data encryption and 22.7% lead in extended instructions also make it superior for security-related tasks and workloads that use newer SIMD extensions. Its 15.1% edge in integer math and 21.1% lead in multithread performance mean it handles general productivity better despite having fewer cores.

The i5-3470 wins specifically in data compression (17.3% ahead), random string sorting (17.5% ahead), and prime number finding (12% ahead). These are workloads that appear to scale with physical core count rather than per-core speed. If you are working with large archives, sorting text data, or running certain mathematical algorithms that are not optimized for newer instructions, the i5’s four cores provide a tangible benefit. Its floating point math result is essentially a tie (0.7% ahead), so that is not a deciding factor. The i5 also has the advantage of a desktop socket, meaning it can be paired with standard coolers and upgraded in compatible systems, whereas the i3 is soldered and limited to its original laptop or mini-PC chassis.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The i3-1115G4 wins decisively. It scores 1330 in Geekbench single-core versus 715 for the i5-3470, a 46.2% lead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 2585 versus 1935, a 25.1% advantage.

Q: Does the i5-3470's extra cores help in multi-threaded workloads?

A: Not enough to beat the i3. Despite having 4 cores versus 2, the i3 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 19.8% (4933 vs 3957) and PassMark multithread by 21.1% (5915 vs 4669). The i5 only wins in specific tests like data compression and random string sorting.

Q: What is the most dramatic performance gap between the two?

A: PassMark data encryption shows the largest delta, with the i3 scoring 3339 against the i5’s 1189, a 64.4% advantage. The smallest gap is in PassMark floating point math, where the i5 leads by just 0.7% (10871 vs 10791).

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in terms of power consumption?

A: No. The i5-3470 has a TDP of 77 W, while the i3-1115G4 has a TDP of 15 W. The i3 is designed for mobile devices and uses significantly less power, which also affects cooling requirements and battery life in laptops.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory?

A: The i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the i5-3470 only supports DDR3. The i5 has a specified memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is given for the i3.

Q: What about integrated graphics?

A: The i3-1115G4 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the i5-3470 has Intel HD 2500. The i3’s iGPU is from a much newer generation and is significantly more capable for media playback and casual gaming, though no benchmark scores are provided for either.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3470 | Intel Core i3-1115G4 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 77 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1449 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Tiger Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 144 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2012-05-31 | 2020-09-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $184 | $281 |

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the Intel Core i3-1115G4 is the faster processor in nearly every meaningful benchmark. It wins 15 of the 19 head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench versions, both Geekbench tests, and the majority of PassMark sub-tests. Its single-core advantage is massive, and even in multi-threaded workloads, its two newer cores outperform the i5’s four older ones. For anyone building a compact, low-power system or buying a laptop, the i3-1115G4 is the obvious choice based on raw performance.

The i5-3470 is only worth considering if your specific workload matches its four wins: data compression, random string sorting, prime number finding, and floating point math (where it is essentially tied). It also has the benefit of a desktop socket, allowing for easier cooling and potential reuse in a desktop build, but its 77 W TDP and DDR3 memory support are dated. The i5 is end-of-life, while the i3 is still active. Given the i3’s 0.8% higher average benchmark score (6851 vs 6906, with the i5 slightly ahead) and the fact that the i5’s only overall edge is marginal, the i3-1115G4 is the superior choice for virtually all modern usage scenarios. The i5-3470 is a relic that wins niche workloads; the i3-1115G4 wins everything else.