Intel Core i3-5157U vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this pairing into two distinct stories. In Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i5-3470T is consistently ahead, while the Intel Core i3-5157U dominates Geekbench. Across the seven recorded head-to-head tests, the i5-3470T claims five wins, but the i3-5157U takes the two most decisive victories.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3470T scores 256 against the i3-5157U’s 222, a 15.3% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-3470T posts 1069 versus 925, a 15.6% lead. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the i5-3470T scoring 2547 and the i3-5157U managing 2203, again a 15.6% difference. Single-core Cinebench results echo this trend; the i5-3470T leads by 15.4% in both R20 (150 vs. 130) and R23 (359 vs. 311). These margins are consistent, suggesting a stable performance advantage across the entire Cinebench suite for the older desktop chip.

The Geekbench results flip the script dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-5157U scores 1568, which is 29.7% higher than the i5-3470T’s 1102. The single-core Geekbench test shows a similar swing, with the i3-5157U at 778 versus the i5-3470T’s 560, a 28% deficit for the i5. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they dwarf the Cinebench margins in the opposite direction. The i3-5157U’s Geekbench wins are roughly twice as large, in percentage terms, as the i5-3470T’s Cinebench wins.

Looking at aggregate scores, the two processors sit very close. The i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, while the i3-5157U averages 877. Both land in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning the overall performance tier is nearly identical. The i3-5157U’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U at 880 (a -0.3% delta) and the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 at 881 (-0.4%), while the i5-3470T sits near the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.1%) and the Intel Xeon X3460 at 866 (-0.4%). The average scores tell you these are comparable chips, but the per-test breakdown reveals sharp workload-dependent differences.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The i5-3470T is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 22 nm process, and targets the desktop segment with an Intel Socket 1155. The i3-5157U uses the Broadwell-U architecture on a newer 14 nm node, designed for mobile platforms with an Intel BGA 1168 socket. The process shrink is significant: 22 nm versus 14 nm, which directly impacts power efficiency and transistor density.

Transistor counts and die sizes tell the physical story. The i3-5157U packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die, while the i5-3470T does not have a listed transistor count but uses a smaller 93.6 mm² die. The newer node allows the i3-5157U to fit substantially more transistors into a larger physical area, enabling additional integrated features. Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache configurations: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. Cache size is not a differentiator here.

Clock speeds differ in structure. The i5-3470T has a 2.90 GHz base clock and a 3.60 GHz boost clock, giving it a dynamic range that the i3-5157U lacks entirely. The i3-5157U has a fixed 2.50 GHz base clock with no boost capability listed. This explains the Cinebench results, where the i5-3470T’s higher sustained and boost clocks help it pull ahead in multi-threaded rendering workloads. The i3-5157U compensates with architectural improvements from Broadwell, which show up in Geekbench.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, each using a dual-channel bus. The i3-5157U lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-3470T does not specify a bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity differs: the i5-3470T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i3-5157U is limited to Gen 2 with 12 lanes. This reflects their different market segments, with the desktop chip having more expansion headroom.

Integrated graphics are a major divergence. The i5-3470T ships with Intel HD 2500, while the i3-5157U features Intel Iris 6100. The Iris 6100 is a more capable GPU solution, which aligns with the i3-5157U’s mobile positioning where discrete graphics are less common. Power envelopes also differ, with the i5-3470T rated at 35W TDP and the i3-5157U at 28W TDP, though the mobile chip’s advantage here is modest. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-3470T was released in 2012, while the i3-5157U came in 2015, and the i3-5157U carries a launch MSRP of $315.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3470T owns Cinebench, and that is not a trivial victory. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 all show the same story: the i5-3470T leads by roughly 15% in both single-core and multi-core tests. For workloads that resemble Cinebench’s rendering engine, such as 3D modeling, video rendering, or any CPU-bound creative task that scales with clock speed, the i5-3470T is the stronger choice. Its 3.60 GHz boost clock gives it a tangible edge in sustained single-threaded performance, which is why the single-core Cinebench margins match the multi-core ones almost exactly. The i5-3470T also carries a desktop socket, meaning it can be paired with a wider range of motherboards and cooling solutions, though the data does not quantify those benefits.

The i3-5157U wins decisively in Geekbench, with a 29.7% multicore advantage and a 28% single-core advantage. Geekbench is a more diverse workload that exercises memory latency, encryption, and integer performance, areas where the Broadwell architecture’s newer microarchitecture pays off. For general desktop productivity, web browsing, office applications, or any software that uses Geekbench-like patterns, the i3-5157U is clearly faster. The gap is large enough that it overcomes the i5-3470T’s clock speed advantage. The i3-5157U also has the Iris 6100 integrated graphics, which is a superior iGPU for light gaming or media playback, though no specific graphics benchmarks are in the data.

The production status differs as well. The i3-5157U is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3470T has no production status listed. For system builders choosing between these two today, the i3-5157U’s status may matter, but the benchmark data shows both chips perform at a similar overall tier, with the 23rd percentile ranking for both.

The Verdict

The data points to a workload-dependent decision. If the primary use case is Cinebench-style rendering or any application that rewards raw clock speed in a multi-threaded environment, the Intel Core i5-3470T is the pick. It leads by 15.3% to 15.6% across all three Cinebench versions, and that consistency is meaningful. The 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks give it a performance envelope that the i3-5157U cannot match in these tests. For a desktop system where PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes are useful, the i5-3470T also offers more modern connectivity.

If the workload leans toward Geekbench-style tasks, the Intel Core i3-5157U is the clear winner. Its 29.7% multicore and 28% single-core advantages are the largest margins in this entire comparison. The Broadwell architecture’s efficiency, combined with the 14 nm process and 1,900 million transistors, delivers a better experience for general-purpose computing. The Iris 6100 integrated graphics and 29.9 GB/s memory bandwidth add to its appeal for a compact or mobile build. The 28W TDP also makes it easier to cool in tight chassis.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i3-5157U at 877 and the i5-3470T at 863. This is a statistical tie, and the 23rd percentile ranking for both reinforces that neither chip has a fundamental performance advantage. The choice comes down to which benchmark suite matches the target software. For rendering, pick the i5-3470T. For everything else, the i3-5157U’s Geekbench dominance makes it the safer all-rounder.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T scores 2547 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 15.6% higher than the Intel Core i3-5157U’s 2203.

Q: How large is the Geekbench single-core gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-5157U scores 778 in Geekbench single-core, beating the Intel Core i5-3470T’s 560 by 28%.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 2 cores and 4 threads, along with identical cache sizes: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has a 35W TDP, while the Intel Core i3-5157U has a 28W TDP.

Q: Which CPU has a boost clock and what is it?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-3470T has a boost clock, which is 3.60 GHz. The Intel Core i3-5157U has a fixed 2.50 GHz base clock with no boost listed.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, and the Intel Core i3-5157U has an average of 877. Both are in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs.