Intel Core i5-3380M vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3380M and the Intel Core i5-3470T are both dual-core, quad-thread Ivy Bridge processors from Intel, but they serve different market segments. The data shows a consistent, though narrow, performance edge for the desktop-oriented i5-3470T across every recorded benchmark. The i5-3470T wins all seven head-to-head tests, with its largest advantage appearing in Geekbench single-core performance, where it leads by 9.8%. The i5-3380M, built for mobile platforms, trails slightly in every metric but shares the same core architecture, process node, and cache configuration. For users choosing between these two, the decision hinges on platform requirements rather than raw capability differences, as the performance gap is small but uniformly favors the i5-3470T.

The Verdict

Benchmark results place the Intel Core i5-3470T ahead of the Intel Core i5-3380M in every recorded test. The average benchmark score for the i5-3470T is 863, compared to 838 for the i5-3380M, a difference that boosts the desktop chip to the 23rd percentile of all CPUs while the mobile chip sits at the 22nd percentile. The Geekbench multicore test shows the largest absolute gap, with the i5-3470T scoring 1102 against 1055 for the i5-3380M, a 4.3% advantage. The most pronounced relative difference occurs in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-3470T scores 560 versus 505, a 9.8% lead. In Cinebench tests, the i5-3470T consistently outperforms by 1.3% to 1.7%, with scores of 256 versus 252 in R15 multicore, 1069 versus 1051 in R20 multicore, 150 versus 148 in R20 single-core, 2547 versus 2504 in R23 multicore, and 359 versus 353 in R23 single-core.

The i5-3470T is the better choice for any workload that prioritizes raw compute throughput, even within the constraints of a 35-watt thermal envelope. Its wins are narrow in Cinebench, but the Geekbench single-core result indicates a more meaningful advantage in lightly threaded applications. The i5-3380M, however, remains viable for mobile systems where the Socket G2 (988B) interface is required, since its performance deficit is modest, never exceeding 9.8% in any test. The data suggests that users on a desktop platform with Socket 1155 should select the i5-3470T without hesitation, while those locked into a laptop chassis have no choice but the i5-3380M, which delivers acceptable performance for its segment. Neither chip offers unlocked multipliers, so overclocking headroom is not a differentiating factor. The i5-3470T also carries a newer integrated graphics solution in terms of feature set, though the i5-3380M includes the higher-tier Intel HD 4000, which may matter for systems relying on the iGPU.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture, using a 22 nm process node fabricated by Intel. They share the same core count of two physical cores and four threads via Hyper-Threading, and both feature identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The base clock and boost clock are identical as well, at 2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz respectively, and both have a thermal design power of 35 watts. The fundamental architectural similarity means that performance differences arise from platform integration and minor silicon variation, not from core design changes.

The i5-3380M uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), a mobile socket, while the i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop socket. This platform distinction drives other differences. The i5-3380M has a die size of 118 mm², while the i5-3470T is smaller at 93.6 mm², indicating a slightly different layout or binning for the mobile part. The integrated graphics differ: the i5-3380M includes Intel HD 4000, whereas the i5-3470T includes Intel HD 2500. This is a notable divergence because the mobile chip features a higher-tier iGPU, which could compensate for its slight CPU deficit in graphics-dependent tasks. The i5-3470T, however, lists PCIe support as Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-3380M does not specify PCIe lanes in the recorded data, reflecting the desktop chip’s greater expansion capability.

Memory support is identical: both use DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration, with no ECC support. Neither processor has a production status recorded, but release dates differ, with the i5-3470T appearing in the database on May 31, 2012, and the i5-3380M on December 31, 2012. The part numbers also differ, SR0RJ for the i5-3470T and SR0X7 for the i5-3380M. The i5-3380M is classified as a Mobile market segment product, while the i5-3470T is Desktop. These platform and iGPU differences are the only substantive architectural variations; the compute cores themselves are functionally equivalent.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 256 versus 252 for the i5-3380M, a 1.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 1069 versus 1051, a 1.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 2547 versus 2504, also a 1.7% lead. Geekbench multicore shows the largest gap, with 1102 versus 1055, a 4.3% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-3380M wins?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows zero wins for the i5-3380M. The i5-3470T wins all seven tests, including single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench and Geekbench. The closest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-3470T scores 150 versus 148, a 1.3% difference.

Q: Do they have the same integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-3380M comes with Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3470T comes with Intel HD 2500. The mobile chip has the higher-tier integrated graphics option, which could affect systems that rely on the iGPU for display output or light graphics acceleration.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i5-3380M uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), which is designed for mobile laptops. The i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155, a desktop socket. They are not interchangeable, and the choice of platform determines which processor can be used.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, while the i5-3380M has an average score of 838. This places the i5-3470T in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs and the i5-3380M in the 22nd percentile. The 25-point difference reflects the consistent, though modest, performance advantage of the desktop part.

Q: Do both processors have the same clock speeds?

A: Yes. Both have a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. They also share the same 35-watt thermal design power, making their power envelopes identical despite the different market segments.

Specification Differences

The two processors share many core specifications, but several fields diverge. The socket is different: Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the i5-3380M versus Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3470T. The die size also differs, with the i5-3380M at 118 mm² and the i5-3470T at 93.6 mm². Integrated graphics differ, with Intel HD 4000 on the i5-3380M and Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3470T. The market segment is Mobile for the i5-3380M and Desktop for the i5-3470T. The i5-3470T lists PCIe support as Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-3380M has no PCIe data recorded. Release dates differ: the i5-3470T is dated May 31, 2012, and the i5-3380M is dated December 31, 2012. Part numbers are SR0RJ for the i5-3470T and SR0X7 for the i5-3380M. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded, and both have locked multipliers.

The cores, threads, base clock, boost clock, thermal design power, architecture, codename, generation, process node, foundry, L1 cache, L2 cache, L3 cache, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, and multiplier unlock status are identical. Both are Ivy Bridge parts on a 22 nm process, with two cores and four threads, 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, 35 watts TDP, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 3 MB shared L3, DDR3 dual-channel memory, no ECC, and locked multipliers. The only other difference is the absence of a production status field for either, which does not affect the comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are one-sided. The i5-3470T wins all seven recorded tests, with the smallest margin in Cinebench R20 single-core. There, the i5-3470T scores 150 against 148 for the i5-3380M, a 1.3% difference. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 1.6% lead for the i5-3470T, with scores of 256 and 252. Cinebench R20 multicore and R23 multicore both show 1.7% leads, with the i5-3470T scoring 1069 versus 1051 and 2547 versus 2504, respectively. Cinebench R23 single-core also shows a 1.7% lead, with 359 versus 353.

The Geekbench tests reveal larger gaps. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-3470T scores 1102, which is 4.3% higher than the i5-3380M’s 1055. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-3470T scores 560, a 9.8% advantage over the i5-3380M’s 505. This single-core result is the standout difference, suggesting that the i5-3470T has a more favorable binning or platform advantage in lightly threaded scenarios. The i5-3380M’s closest performance is in Cinebench tests, where it trails by less than 2% across the board, but it cannot close the gap in Geekbench.

The average benchmark scores align with these head-to-head results. The i5-3470T’s average of 863 compares to 838 for the i5-3380M, and the nearest rivals in the database reflect similar performance tiers. The i5-3380M’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-5200U with an average score of 838 and a 0.1% delta, while the i5-3470T’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon W3520 with an average score of 862 and a 0.1% delta. These rival comparisons confirm that the two chips sit in adjacent performance bands, with the i5-3470T just above the i5-3380M.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3470T wins in every compute benchmark, so its strengths are clear. It is the better choice for desktop systems where Socket 1155 is available, and its performance edge is most pronounced in Geekbench single-core, where it leads by 9.8%. This makes it preferable for applications that rely on single-threaded responsiveness, such as older software or lightly threaded productivity tasks. Its Cinebench wins, though narrow, reinforce its suitability for rendering workloads that scale across cores, even with only two physical cores. The i5-3470T also offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which is an advantage for desktop users who need discrete graphics or expansion cards.

The i5-3380M wins only in the sense of platform fit. It is the sole option for mobile systems using Intel Socket G2 (988B), and its integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics are a step above the i5-3470T’s Intel HD 2500. For a laptop user, the i5-3380M provides competitive CPU performance, trailing the i5-3470T by no more than 4.3% in multi-core tests and 9.8% in single-core, while offering a better iGPU tier. Its larger die size of 118 mm² compared to 93.6 mm² does not confer a performance benefit in the recorded data, but it may reflect additional integrated graphics hardware. The i5-3380M’s release date is later, suggesting it is a newer design, yet the benchmarks do not show any corresponding advantage.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, so enthusiasts cannot overclock either. The i5-3470T’s desktop socket allows for more robust cooling solutions, which might explain its consistent, albeit small, performance lead despite identical clock speeds and TDP. The i5-3380M’s mobile socket limits cooling options, but the recorded benchmarks do not indicate thermal throttling. In summary, the i5-3470T is the faster processor in all measured scenarios, while the i5-3380M is the appropriate choice for mobile platforms, with the caveat that its integrated graphics are superior. Users on a desktop should pick the i5-3470T; users on a laptop must pick the i5-3380M, and they will sacrifice less than 10% performance in the worst case.