Intel Core i5-3335S vs Intel Core i5-3470S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3470S wins all seven head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i5-3335S. Out of the seven tests, the i5-3470S takes every single score, with margins ranging from a modest 4.6% to a decisive 16.4%. The i5-3335S records zero wins.

The most significant gap appears in the Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-3470S scores 373 against 314 for the i5-3335S, a delta of -15.8% when viewed from the i5-3335S perspective. The pattern holds across Cinebench R20 multicore (1558 versus 1310, a -15.9% delta) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3711 versus 3121, -15.9%). These are consistent margins, suggesting a structural advantage in sustained multi-threaded workloads rather than a one-off anomaly.

The single-core Cinebench results show an even larger relative difference. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the i5-3470S scores 220 while the i5-3335S scores 184, a -16.4% delta. Similarly, Cinebench R23 singlecore sees 524 against 440, a -16% delta. This is a substantial lead for the i5-3470S in lightly threaded tasks, which matters for everyday responsiveness and applications that rely on a single primary thread.

The Geekbench results, while still favoring the i5-3470S, tell a slightly different story with narrower margins. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-3470S scores 1726 versus 1647, a delta of -4.6%. In Geekbench singlecore, the i5-3470S scores 599 against 562, a delta of -6.2%. These smaller gaps in Geekbench suggest that the i5-3470S advantage is more pronounced in Cinebench's rendering-focused workloads than in Geekbench's more varied test suite. Still, the direction is consistent: the i5-3470S is ahead everywhere.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this hierarchy. The i5-3470S records an average score of 1095, while the i5-3335S records 1083. This puts the i5-3470S roughly 1.1% ahead on average across all recorded tests, which is a slim but real edge. Both processors sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so neither is a high-flyer, but the i5-3470S is clearly the faster part of the two.

The i5-3335S does have a notable point in its favor: its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i5-2320 with an identical average score of 1083, and the AMD A12-9800 with a score of 1081, a delta of only 0.2%. This means the i5-3335S is not an outlier on the low end; it is simply at the level of older mainstream desktop chips. The i5-3470S, meanwhile, sits alongside mobile i7 parts like the Intel Core i7-2670QM (average 1096, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-4610M (average 1094, delta 0.1%), indicating it punches at a higher class.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3470S is the superior processor. It wins every single head-to-head test, with deltas ranging from -4.6% to -16.4% in favor of the i5-3470S. In Cinebench workloads, the i5-3470S consistently leads by roughly 16%, which is a meaningful gap for rendering, video encoding, and any CPU-bound creative task. In Geekbench, the lead narrows to under 7%, but it still holds in both single-core and multi-core.

Who should pick the i5-3470S? Anyone who needs the maximum performance from a 65W socket 1155 desktop processor. The data shows a uniform advantage across all tested metrics, so there is no scenario in the database where the i5-3335S wins. For users running Cinebench-style workloads, the i5-3470S is clearly the better choice, as it delivers a ~16% higher score in every Cinebench iteration.

Who should pick the i5-3335S? The data offers no performance reason to do so. Its only redeeming feature is a slightly different integrated graphics configuration (Intel HD 4000 versus Intel HD 2500), but that is not a benchmark score, and it does not change the CPU performance picture. If a user already owns the i5-3335S, it is not a disaster: its average score of 1083 is within 0.2% of the AMD A12-9800 and 0.1% of the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T, so it is a competent, if unremarkable, part. But for anyone making a new choice between these two, the data clearly favors the i5-3470S.

One nuance: the i5-3470S has a higher average score of 1095, but it also has a higher die size of 133 mm² versus 160 mm² for the i5-3335S. This is a physical difference, not a performance one per se, but it suggests the i5-3470S is a more refined design. The i5-3470S also has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs 2.70 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.20 GHz), which directly explains the performance gap. The data shows a clear winner, and there is no reason to recommend the i5-3335S on performance grounds.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S wins all seven head-to-head tests recorded in the database. The Intel Core i5-3335S wins zero.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the i5-3470S scores 220 versus 184, a -16.4% difference. The Cinebench R20 multicore and R23 multicore tests both show -15.9% deltas, and R15 multicore shows -15.8%.

Q: Are there any tests where the i5-3335S is close to the i5-3470S?

• A: Yes, in Geekbench multicore the gap narrows to -4.6% (1657 versus 1726), and in Geekbench singlecore the gap is -6.2% (562 versus 599). These are much smaller than the Cinebench gaps.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to other parts in the database?

• A: The i5-3335S has an average score of 1083, equal to the Intel Core i5-2400, and within 0.2% of the AMD A12-9800. The i5-3470S has an average score of 1095, which is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-2670QM and within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-4600M.

Q: Does the i5-3335S have any advantage in integrated graphics?

• A: The i5-3335S features the Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3470S features the Intel HD 2500. However, this is a feature difference, not a benchmark score, and no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database.

Q: What are the clock speeds of both processors?

• A: The i5-3335S has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3470S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The higher clocks of the i5-3470S correlate with its higher benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors share many core specifications: both have 4 cores and 4 threads, a 65W TDP, a socket of Intel Socket 1155, the same Ivy Bridge architecture, a 22 nm process node, and Intel as both manufacturer and foundry. Both also support DDR3 memory with dual-channel bus, and both have a 6 MB shared L3 cache, with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

The differences are in clock speeds, graphics, and physical design. The i5-3335S runs at a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i5-3470S runs at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, which is 200 MHz and 400 MHz higher respectively. The i5-3335S has a die size of 160 mm² and a listed transistor count of 1,480 million. The i5-3470S has a die size of 133 mm² and no transistor count is listed. The i5-3335S features Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, while the i5-3470S features Intel HD 2500. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), and both are desktop parts that are not multiplier unlocked. The release date also differs: the i5-3470S was released in 2012-05-31, and the i5-3335S was released in 2012-10-31.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Ivy Bridge core architecture, fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process, and use the same Intel Socket 1155. They share the same cache layout: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, and both have a 65W TDP.

The key architectural difference is the integrated graphics. The i5-3335S uses the Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3470S uses the Intel HD 2500. The database does not record any graphics benchmarks for these parts, so the performance impact of this difference is not measured. The other difference is the die size: the i5-3335S has a 160 mm² die with 1,480 million transistors, while the i5-3470S has a 133 mm² die with no transistor count listed. This suggests the i5-3335S has a more complex layout, possibly for the HD 4000 graphics, but it does not translate into CPU performance, as the i5-3470S is faster in every recorded test. The higher clocks of the i5-3470S are likely the primary reason for its performance advantage, since both share the same core architecture and cache structure.