Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

The Intel Core i9-7980XE is a decisive winner over the Intel Core i5-3470 in every benchmark recorded in the data, with the largest gaps appearing in multi-threaded workloads. The i9-7980XE leads by margins ranging from 100.7% in Geekbench single-core to 535.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the i5-3470 fails to claim a single head-to-head victory. These are not close contests; the i9-7980XE dominates across all eight shared tests, making the comparison a matter of scale rather than nuance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads. This 14-core and 32-thread difference is the primary driver behind the i9-7980XE's massive multi-threaded lead.

Q: How much faster is the i9-7980XE in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-7980XE scores 25072 versus 3957 for the i5-3470, a 533.6% advantage. Geekbench multi-core shows a similar story: 11198 versus 2015, a 455.7% lead.

Q: Does the i5-3470 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data records winsA as 8 and winsB as 0. The i9-7980XE wins every single test, including single-core benchmarks where the i5-3470's higher base clock might suggest it could compete.

Q: What are the single-core performance differences?

A: The i9-7980XE leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with 3539 versus 558, a 534.2% margin. In Geekbench single-core, the gap narrows to 100.7% (1435 versus 715), but the i9-7980XE still wins decisively.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: The i9-7980XE supports DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-3470 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-7980XE offers more than three times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both are listed as end-of-life. The i9-7980XE was released on 2017-08-31 with a launch MSRP of $1999, while the i5-3470 was released on 2012-05-31 with a launch MSRP of $184.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is generational and structural. The i9-7980XE is built on the Skylake-X architecture using a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 484 mm². The i5-3470 uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process, with a die size of 160 mm². This process shrink allows the i9-7980XE to pack 18 cores into a larger die, whereas the i5-3470's smaller die houses only 4 cores.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both use 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache jumps from 256 KB per core on the i5-3470 to 1 MB per core on the i9-7980XE. Shared L3 cache is 24.75 MB on the i9-7980XE versus 6 MB on the i5-3470. This four-fold increase in L3 capacity gives the i9-7980XE a significant advantage in workloads that benefit from larger working sets residing in cache.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i9-7980XE runs DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-3470 runs DDR3 in dual-channel mode with 25.6 GB/s. The i9-7980XE also offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) compared to 16 lanes on the i5-3470, enabling far more expansion capacity for multi-GPU or NVMe setups.

Clock speeds tell a more nuanced story. The i5-3470 has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz on the i9-7980XE, but the i9-7980XE boosts to 4.40 GHz versus 3.60 GHz on the i5-3470. The i9-7980XE also has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-3470 is locked. TDP scales accordingly: 165 W for the i9-7980XE versus 77 W for the i5-3470. The i5-3470 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), while the i9-7980XE has none listed. The i9-7980XE uses Socket 2066, and the i5-3470 uses Socket 1155, meaning they are not platform-compatible.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Every benchmark in the shared set favors the i9-7980XE, and the margins are consistently extreme. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9-7980XE scores 2527 versus 398, a 534.9% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar 535.7% gap (356 versus 56). These percentages are nearly identical, suggesting that the i9-7980XE's advantage is not just core count but also per-core efficiency at boost clocks.

Cinebench R20 repeats the pattern: multi-core 10530 versus 1661 (534% lead) and single-core 1486 versus 234 (535% lead). Cinebench R23 follows with 25072 versus 3957 in multi-core (533.6%) and 3539 versus 558 in single-core (534.2%). The consistency of these deltas — all hovering around 534-536% — indicates a stable performance ratio across Cinebench versions, regardless of workload scaling.

Geekbench shows a different shape. Multi-core scores are 11198 versus 2015, a 455.7% lead, which is lower than Cinebench but still overwhelming. Single-core Geekbench is the closest result in the entire comparison: 1435 versus 715, a 100.7% lead. This is the only test where the i9-7980XE's advantage drops below 100% of the i5-3470's score. In practical terms, the i9-7980XE is roughly twice as fast in single-threaded Geekbench, but five to six times as fast in heavily threaded workloads.

The i5-3470 has additional PassMark benchmarks not shared with the i9-7980XE, including data compression (73224), data encryption (1189), and integer math (14840). These scores are not comparable in the head-to-head table, but they do not change the outcome: with winsA at 8 and winsB at 0, the i9-7980XE is the unambiguous winner in every shared test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i9-7980XE is the superior processor in every measured dimension, and the margins are so large that the i5-3470 cannot be recommended for any workload where the i9-7980XE is available. The i9-7980XE's 18 cores and 36 threads deliver 533.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core scores and 455.7% higher Geekbench multi-core scores, making it the only choice for multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or simulation tasks.

The i5-3470's only theoretical advantages are its lower 77 W TDP and integrated graphics, but neither of those appears in the benchmark data as a performance win. Its higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) does not translate to a single-core win, as the i9-7980XE's 4.40 GHz boost clock and newer architecture overcome the deficit. The i5-3470 is end-of-life, as is the i9-7980XE, but the i9-7980XE was released five years later and represents a far more capable platform.

For users whose workloads are single-threaded, the i9-7980XE still leads by 100.7% in Geekbench single-core, so there is no scenario in the data where the i5-3470 wins. The verdict is simple: the i9-7980XE is the benchmark leader in every shared test, and the i5-3470 is outclassed by an order of magnitude in multi-threaded performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Core count is 18 versus 4, and thread count is 36 versus 4. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, but boost clocks are 4.40 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. TDP is 165 W versus 77 W. Sockets are incompatible: Socket 2066 versus Socket 1155.

Cache configurations diverge sharply: L2 cache is 1 MB per core versus 256 KB per core, and L3 cache is 24.75 MB shared versus 6 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth versus DDR3 dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 44 versus 16, both Gen 3. Process node is 14 nm versus 22 nm, with die sizes of 484 mm² versus 160 mm². The i5-3470 has integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500); the i9-7980XE has none listed. The i9-7980XE has an unlocked multiplier; the i5-3470 does not. Release dates are 2017-08-31 versus 2012-05-31, and launch MSRP is $1999 versus $184. Transistor count is listed only for the i5-3470 at 1,400 million; no figure is provided for the i9-7980XE.

Where Each One Wins

The i9-7980XE wins every category where benchmark data exists. For multi-threaded workloads — Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core — it leads by roughly 534-535%, making it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, and any parallel compute task. Geekbench multi-core shows a 455.7% lead, reinforcing its dominance in real-world multi-tasking and content creation. Even in single-core tests, the i9-7980XE wins by 100.7% (Geekbench) to 535.7% (Cinebench R15), so it is not merely a core-count monster; it is also faster per thread.

The i5-3470 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its only listed advantages are qualitative: a lower TDP of 77 W versus 165 W, integrated graphics, and a smaller die size. These are not performance metrics in the head-to-head table. For users seeking a low-power or integrated-graphics solution, the i5-3470 might be acceptable, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the i9-7980XE in any computational task. The i9-7980XE is the winner in 8 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, and the i5-3470 is left with zero.