Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i9-10940X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints an unambiguous picture in this comparison. The Intel Core i9-10940X wins every single recorded benchmark against the Intel Core i5-3470, with a perfect 8 to 0 win count across all head-to-head tests. The margins, however, vary significantly depending on whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded.

Starting with multi-core performance, the i9-10940X delivers a dominant showing. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-10940X scores 23,520 points against the i5-3470's 3,957 points, a delta of -83.2% from the perspective of the older chip. The same -83.2% delta appears consistently across Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,370 vs 398), Cinebench R20 multi-core (9,878 vs 1,661), and Cinebench R23 multi-core. This uniformity in the percentage gap across all three Cinebench versions indicates that the performance difference scales linearly with core count and thread count, with no unexpected bottleneck or architectural quirk altering the result between test iterations.

Geekbench multi-core shows a slightly narrower but still massive gap. The i9-10940X scores 10,464 points, while the i5-3470 scores 2,015 points, a delta of -80.7%. This is a slightly smaller percentage gap than the Cinebench tests, suggesting that Geekbench's workload mix does not fully saturate all 28 threads of the i9-10940X, or that the memory subsystem differences play a mitigating role in that particular benchmark.

Single-core performance tells a different numerical story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-10940X scores 3,320 points versus 558 points for the i5-3470, again a -83.2% delta. This is notable because single-core tests should theoretically minimize the impact of core count differences. The fact that the delta is identical to the multi-core tests suggests that the per-core performance advantage of the newer architecture is the dominant factor, not just the thread count advantage. The i9-10940X also leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (334 vs 56) and Cinebench R20 single-core (1,394 vs 234), both with the same -83.2% delta.

Geekbench single-core is where the gap narrows most dramatically, though it remains decisive. The i9-10940X scores 1,556 points, and the i5-3470 scores 715 points, a delta of -54%. This is the smallest percentage difference in any head-to-head test. The single-core Geekbench workload appears to be less sensitive to the architectural improvements between Ivy Bridge and Cascade Lake, or the i5-3470's relatively modest clock speed disadvantage is less punishing in that specific test.

Notably, there are no benchmark categories where the i5-3470 manages to close the gap or claim a win. Every recorded test, whether synthetic or application-based, favors the i9-10940X. The database also includes PassMark results for the i5-3470, including data compression (73,224), data encryption (1,189), extended instructions (3,548), find prime numbers (28), floating point math (10,871), integer math (14,840), multithread (4,669), physics (378), random string sorting (9,004), and single thread (1,935). The i9-10940X has no recorded PassMark scores in the database, so those tests cannot be compared head-to-head. But for the tests where both CPUs have recorded scores, the outcome is consistent.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is straightforward, but worth articulating precisely. The i9-10940X wins in every scenario that benefits from high core counts, high thread counts, or newer single-thread performance. The i5-3470 wins in no measured scenario, though there are qualitative contexts where it remains viable.

For multi-threaded productivity workloads such as video rendering, 3D scene compilation, or any task that scales across cores, the i9-10940X is the clear choice. Its 14 cores and 28 threads give it a 10-core and 24-thread advantage over the i5-3470's 4 cores and 4 threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-10940X delivers roughly 5.9 times the score of the i5-3470. That magnitude of difference is exactly what one would expect from a processor with 3.5 times the core count and 7 times the thread count, combined with a newer architecture.

For lightly threaded workloads, the i9-10940X still wins, but the margin is more variable. Geekbench single-core shows a 54% gap, while Cinebench single-core tests show an 83.2% gap. The i9-10940X's boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus the i5-3470's 3.60 GHz provides part of the advantage, but the architectural improvements in instruction handling and cache hierarchy contribute as well.

The i5-3470, by contrast, has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its role is limited to scenarios where its lower power draw and integrated graphics matter, though the database does not provide comparative power or graphics performance figures. The i5-3470 includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, while the i9-10940X has no integrated graphics recorded in the database. For a system that requires a display output without a discrete GPU, the i5-3470 has a functional advantage that benchmarks do not capture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design, and the architectural gap is substantial. The i5-3470 is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The i9-10940X uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically Cascade Lake-X, on a 14 nm process node. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the i9-10940X, so a direct transistor density comparison is not possible. However, the process node difference alone indicates a generational shift in design priorities.

Core and thread counts differ enormously. The i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads, with hyper-threading effectively doubling the thread count. This is the single largest architectural factor behind the multi-core performance gap.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is where the first major difference appears: the i5-3470 has 256 KB per core, while the i9-10940X has 1 MB per core, a fourfold increase per core. The L3 cache differs as well, with the i5-3470 offering 6 MB shared and the i9-10940X offering 19.25 MB shared. The larger per-core L2 and the larger shared L3 both contribute to the i9-10940X's ability to feed its cores more effectively, particularly in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support is another clear generational split. The i5-3470 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i9-10940X supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, though the database does not list a specific memory bandwidth figure. The combination of a newer memory standard and twice the memory channels gives the i9-10940X a substantial memory throughput advantage, which matters for workloads that stream large datasets through the cores.

Clock speeds favor the i9-10940X in both base and boost. The i5-3470 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i9-10940X has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The boost clock difference of 1.20 GHz is particularly relevant for single-threaded performance.

The i9-10940X has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-3470 does not. This means the i9-10940X can be overclocked, though the database does not provide overclocked benchmark results. The i5-3470 also lacks ECC memory support, as does the i9-10940X, so that is not a differentiator.

Socket and platform requirements differ completely. The i5-3470 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the i9-10940X uses Intel Socket 2066. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the i5-3470 lists 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i9-10940X lists only "Gen 3" without a lane count. The i9-10940X also has integrated graphics listed as null, while the i5-3470 includes Intel HD 2500.

Production status and release timing also differ. The i5-3470 is marked as end-of-life, released on 2012-05-31. The i9-10940X is marked as active, released on 2019-10-18. The i5-3470 has a recorded launch MSRP of $184. The i9-10940X has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the single-core benchmark difference between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-10940X scores 3,320 points against the i5-3470's 558 points, a delta of -83.2%. In Geekbench single-core, the gap is smaller: 1,556 points versus 715 points, a delta of -54%.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the i5-3470 and the i9-10940X have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The i5-3470 supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-10940X supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, with no specific bandwidth figure recorded.

Q: Does the i9-10940X have integrated graphics?

A: No. The database lists integrated graphics as null for the i9-10940X. The i5-3470 includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-10940X has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to the i5-3470's boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i9-10940X outperforms the Intel Core i5-3470 in every benchmark category where both have recorded scores. In multi-threaded workloads, the advantage is enormous, with the i9-10940X scoring roughly 5.9 times higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core and about 5.2 times higher in Geekbench multi-core. In single-threaded workloads, the i9-10940X still leads by a wide margin, though the exact gap depends on the benchmark: 54% in Geekbench single-core and 83.2% in Cinebench single-core.

The i5-3470's only advantages are qualitative rather than quantitative. It has integrated graphics, a lower TDP of 77 watts versus 165 watts for the i9-10940X, and an end-of-life status that might make it available in legacy systems. It also has a recorded launch MSRP of $184, while the i9-10940X has no recorded launch MSRP. But for any workload that the database measures, the i9-10940X is the superior choice.

For users building a new system or upgrading for productivity, rendering, or multi-threaded tasks, the i9-10940X is the clear pick from the recorded data. For users maintaining a legacy Ivy Bridge platform or requiring integrated graphics without a discrete GPU, the i5-3470 remains functional but cannot compete on performance. The percentile ranks confirm the overall picture: the i5-3470 sits at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, and the i9-10940X sits at the 62nd percentile. Despite the i9-10940X's massive benchmark wins, the two chips land at nearly the same percentile rank, which reflects how the broader CPU landscape shifted between 2012 and 2019. Within this direct comparison, however, the i9-10940X is the definitive winner.