Intel Core i5-3350P vs Intel Core i5-3475S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3475S and the Intel Core i5-3350P are nearly identical twins separated by a single, decisive feature. Across all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the i5-3475S wins or ties, but the margins are razor-thin in compute tests. The only meaningful performance gap appears in single-core Geekbench, where the i5-3475S takes a 3.9% lead. The real differentiator, however, is the presence of integrated graphics on the i5-3475S and their absence on the i5-3350P, which fundamentally changes which system each CPU belongs in.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a picture of near-perfect parity in raw processing power. In Cinebench R15, both multicore and single-core tests result in a dead tie at 371 and 52 points respectively. The i5-3475S is credited with the win, but a 0% deltaPct means the results are identical. This is not a victory; it is a stalemate.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-3475S edges ahead by a single point in multicore (1547 vs 1546), a 0.1% difference that is statistically negligible. The single-core R20 test shows a slightly larger gap, with the i5-3475S scoring 218 against the i5-3350P's 217, a 0.5% advantage. These are the kinds of margins that fall within run-to-run variance, suggesting the two CPUs are functionally equivalent for heavily threaded workloads.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The i5-3475S posts 3685 multicore against 3681 for the i5-3350P, another 0.1% difference. Single-core R23 sees the i5-3475S at 520 versus 519, a 0.2% edge. In every Cinebench iteration, the i5-3475S wins, but the deltas are so small they would never be perceptible in real-world use.

The Geekbench results finally introduce a measurable separation. In the multicore test, the i5-3475S scores 1731 versus 1730 for the i5-3350P, a 0.1% margin that again means nothing in practice. The single-core Geekbench test, however, delivers the largest delta of the entire comparison: the i5-3475S scores 607, while the i5-3350P manages only 584. That is a 3.9% advantage for the i5-3475S, and it is the only benchmark where the difference exceeds 0.5%. This suggests the i5-3475S has a slight clock-speed or boost-behavior advantage that manifests most clearly in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks.

The overall win tally is 8-0 in favor of the i5-3475S, but that record is misleading. Six of those eight wins are by margins of 0.2% or less, and two are exact ties. Only the Geekbench single-core result shows a meaningful performance gap. The average benchmark scores reflect this: the i5-3475S averages 1091, while the i5-3350P averages 1088, a 0.3% difference. Both CPUs sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals confirm the parity. The i5-3475S matches the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 at 1091, while the i5-3350P matches the AMD Athlon 220GE at 1088.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3475S wins every multi-core benchmark, but by margins of 0.1% to 0.2%. In Cinebench R20, it scores 1547 versus 1546; in R23, it scores 3685 versus 3681. These differences are negligible and within normal test variance.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-3350P wins?

A: No. The i5-3475S wins all eight head-to-head benchmark comparisons. However, in Cinebench R15, both multicore and single-core tests result in identical scores of 371 and 52, so the i5-3350P effectively ties in those two tests.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between these two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-3475S scores 607 against the i5-3350P's 584, a 3.9% advantage. Every other benchmark shows a delta of 0.5% or less.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same architecture and core configuration?

A: Yes. Both are Ivy Bridge parts on a 22 nm process, with 4 cores, 4 threads, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. They also share the same Intel Socket 1155 and both support DDR3 dual-channel memory.

Q: What is the most important hardware difference between them?

A: The i5-3475S includes integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the i5-3350P has no integrated graphics at all. This is the defining feature that separates the two parts.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The i5-3475S matches the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 with an average score of 1091 for both. The i5-3350P matches the AMD Athlon 220GE with an average score of 1088 for both. The i5-3350P is also within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-2450P.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: for pure compute performance, there is no meaningful winner between these two CPUs. The i5-3475S holds a 3.9% lead in Geekbench single-core, but everywhere else the difference is under 0.5%. If you are choosing purely on benchmark scores, the i5-3475S is the safer pick, but the i5-3350P will deliver identical real-world performance in almost every scenario.

The verdict changes entirely when you factor in integrated graphics. The i5-3475S has Intel HD 4000; the i5-3350P has none. This means the i5-3475S can power a system without a discrete graphics card, while the i5-3350P absolutely requires one. For a budget build where a GPU is already planned, the i5-3350P is the logical choice, offering the same compute performance at a likely lower cost. For a build that needs to run without a discrete GPU, the i5-3475S is the only option of the two.

The i5-3475S also carries a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 69 watts for the i5-3350P, making it slightly more power-efficient. Neither CPU is multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking is off the table for both. Ultimately, the i5-3475S is the more complete product, but the i5-3350P is the more economical choice for systems that already include a graphics card.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in only a handful of specification fields. The i5-3475S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the i5-3350P runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The i5-3475S has a lower base clock but a substantially higher boost clock, which explains its Geekbench single-core advantage.

Thermal design power differs slightly: the i5-3475S is rated at 65 watts, the i5-3350P at 69 watts. The die size also differs, with the i5-3475S measuring 160 mm² versus 133 mm² for the i5-3350P. The transistor count is listed only for the i5-3475S at 1,400 million; no figure is provided for the i5-3350P.

The most significant specification difference is integrated graphics. The i5-3475S includes Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3350P has no integrated graphics listed. Both CPUs use the same socket, memory support, PCIe configuration, and cache layout. The i5-3475S released on 2012-05-31, roughly three months before the i5-3350P's 2012-09-02 release date.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs share the same Ivy Bridge architecture, codename Ivy Bridge, and are built on Intel's 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. They are both fourth-generation Core i5 parts with 4 cores and 4 threads. The cache hierarchy is identical: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3.

The core architecture differences are minimal. The i5-3475S integrates the Intel HD 4000 graphics engine, which adds to its die size (160 mm² versus 133 mm² for the i5-3350P). The larger die on the i5-3475S is directly attributable to the graphics block, which the i5-3350P omits entirely. This also explains the transistor count difference, though the count for the i5-3350P is not provided.

Both CPUs support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration, have 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and do not support ECC memory. Neither is multiplier-unlocked. The part numbers differ — SR0PP for the i5-3475S and SR0WS for the i5-3350P — but the underlying compute architecture is otherwise identical. The i5-3475S achieves its higher boost clock within a lower TDP envelope, suggesting slightly better binning or power management, but the architectural foundation is the same.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3475S wins in every benchmark comparison, but the practical victories are concentrated in specific scenarios. In single-threaded applications, the Geekbench single-core score of 607 versus 584 gives it a 3.9% edge, which could translate to faster response times in older or poorly optimized software. The higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.30 GHz is the likely driver here. For any system that must run without a discrete GPU, the i5-3475S is the clear winner because its integrated HD 4000 graphics make it a complete, self-contained processor.

The i5-3350P wins in scenarios where a discrete GPU is already present. It delivers the same multi-core performance — within 0.1% to 0.2% across all Cinebench tests — at a likely lower price point, though no launch MSRP is available for either part. The slightly higher TDP of 69 watts versus 65 watts is a minor penalty, but the absence of unused graphics hardware makes it a more efficient choice for a system with a dedicated graphics card. It also has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, which can help in workloads that run at base clocks rather than boosting.

For workloads that are heavily multi-threaded, neither CPU has a meaningful advantage. The Cinebench R23 multicore scores of 3685 and 3681 are effectively identical. For gaming with a discrete GPU, the 3.9% single-core lead of the i5-3475S is the only measurable edge, but it is unlikely to change frame rates in a noticeable way. The i5-3350P is the pragmatic choice for builders who know they will install a GPU; the i5-3475S is the versatile choice for systems that might run without one.