Intel Core i5-3450S vs Intel Core i5-3470S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3450S and Intel Core i5-3470S are two closely matched Ivy Bridge desktop processors, both built for the Intel Socket 1155 platform with four cores and four threads. The data reveals a fascinating split: the 3450S edges out its sibling in every Cinebench test, while the 3470S counters with decisive wins in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance. This is not a case of one chip being categorically superior; instead, the benchmark results point to subtle but consistent strengths that could matter depending on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark suite offers a clear division of labor. The Intel Core i5-3450S is the victor across all six Cinebench iterations, which stress sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. Its wins are narrow but uniform, ranging from a 0.9% edge in Cinebench R20 single-core to a 1.9% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core. For users running CPU-intensive rendering tasks that rely on Cinebench's engine, the 3450S is the more consistent performer, even if the margins are slim.

The Intel Core i5-3470S, conversely, claims both Geekbench victories. Its single-core win is substantial at 3% (599 vs 581), and it also takes the multi-core test with a 0.8% lead (1726 vs 1712). Geekbench's workload mix includes memory, encryption, and integer operations, suggesting that the 3470S may have an edge in more diverse, everyday computing scenarios or in applications that scale well with the slightly higher base and boost clocks. The data implies a choice: rendering favors the 3450S, while general-purpose and single-thread-sensitive tasks tip toward the 3470S.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S operates at a 2.90 GHz base clock, which is higher than the 2.80 GHz base clock of the Intel Core i5-3450S.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The 3470S boosts up to 3.60 GHz, while the 3450S boosts up to 3.50 GHz, a 0.10 GHz advantage for the 3470S.

Q: Which CPU wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450S wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head tests, with all wins coming in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 (both multi-core and single-core).

Q: In which benchmark does the 3470S have its largest margin of victory?

A: The 3470S's biggest win is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 599 versus 581 for the 3450S, a delta of -3% (from the 3450S perspective).

Q: Do both processors have the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both the i5-3450S and i5-3470S feature Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics.

Q: Are the two chips from the same architecture generation?

A: Yes, both are based on the Ivy Bridge architecture and belong to the same Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation, fabricated on a 22 nm process node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern is the 3450S's clean sweep of Cinebench. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 377 against 373, a 1.1% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a larger relative gap at 1.9%, with scores of 53 and 52 — a tiny absolute difference but a consistent one. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 3450S again takes both tests: 1573 vs 1558 in multi-core (1% delta) and 222 vs 220 in single-core (0.9% delta). The latest version in the suite, Cinebench R23, follows suit with a 3747 vs 3711 multi-core result and a 529 vs 524 single-core result, both showing a 1% delta. These are not flukes; the 3450S is consistently ahead in every render-based test, even if the margins feel negligible in real-world terms.

The Geekbench results flip the script. The 3470S wins multi-core with 1726 points against 1712, a 0.8% delta. More telling is the single-core test, where the 3470S posts 599 points versus 581 for the 3450S, a 3% difference — the largest margin in either direction across the entire benchmark set. This suggests that the 3470S's higher clock speeds (2.90 GHz base, 3.60 GHz boost) translate into a measurable advantage in single-threaded workloads that do not rely on Cinebench's specific instruction patterns. The 3450S's wins are numerous, but the 3470S's single-core Geekbench victory is the most pronounced performance gap found in the data.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core and thread count, TDP, socket, memory support, and PCIe configuration, but a few key specifications diverge. The base clock differs: the 3450S runs at 2.80 GHz, while the 3470S runs at 2.90 GHz. Boost clocks follow the same pattern, with the 3450S reaching 3.50 GHz and the 3470S reaching 3.60 GHz. Both have the same cache structure (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3) and the same memory bus (Dual-channel DDR3).

The most notable non-clock difference is the die size. The 3450S has a die size of 160 mm², while the 3470S is smaller at 133 mm². Interestingly, the 3450S lists a transistor count of 1,400 million, whereas the 3470S does not have a transistor count provided in the data pack. The release dates also differ slightly: the 3450S launched on April 28, 2012, while the 3470S launched about a month later on May 31, 2012. Finally, the part numbers differ (SR0P2 for the 3450S, SR0TA for the 3470S), confirming these are distinct silicon variants.

Architecture Differences

Both CPUs are built on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated at Intel's 22 nm process node, and share the same "Ivy Bridge" codename and Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. They both use the Intel Socket 1155 and support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have a locked multiplier, meaning they are not intended for overclocking.

The integrated graphics are identical: Intel HD 2500 on both chips. The memory support is also the same, with dual-channel DDR3. Given that the architecture, process node, foundry, cache hierarchy, and graphics are all identical, the performance differences observed in benchmarks must stem from the clock speed variations and the physical die differences. The 3470S's smaller 133 mm² die size relative to the 3450S's 160 mm² is curious, as it suggests a more efficient layout or a different binning strategy, though the data pack does not provide further explanation. The lack of a transistor count for the 3470S makes it impossible to compare transistor density directly, but the die size gap is the only architectural-level distinction beyond clocks.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a picture of two nearly identical processors with opposing strengths. The Intel Core i5-3450S is the pick for anyone whose workload is dominated by Cinebench-style rendering tasks. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins between 0.9% and 1.9%, and its 3747 multi-core score in Cinebench R23 is its peak. If your software relies on this specific rendering engine, the 3450S offers a slight but consistent edge over its sibling.

The Intel Core i5-3470S, meanwhile, is the better choice for general-purpose and single-threaded applications, as evidenced by its Geekbench performance. Its 599 single-core score is 3% higher than the 3450S's 581, and it also takes the multi-core Geekbench test (1726 vs 1712). The higher base and boost clocks (2.90/3.60 GHz vs 2.80/3.50 GHz) appear to pay off in workloads that are not heavily reliant on Cinebench's code paths.

For a user facing a strict choice, the decision hinges on the primary use case. The 3450S is the Cinebench champion, while the 3470S is the Geekbench leader. Both sit at the 30-31st percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1099 for the 3450S, 1095 for the 3470S). Given the 3470S's larger single-core win and its victory in the more general-purpose Geekbench suite, the data slightly favors the 3470S for mixed-use desktops, but the 3450S's rendering consistency cannot be ignored. In practical terms, the differences are so small that the choice may come down to availability or price, though the benchmark data alone shows the 3470S with the more decisive single-core edge.