Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i9-9960X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9960X and the Intel Core i5-3470 represent two distant eras of Intel desktop computing, separated by six years of architectural evolution. The data shows a complete sweep in head-to-head benchmarks, with the i9-9960X winning all eight recorded comparisons. The average benchmark scores place these two processors remarkably close in the aggregate — 6938 for the i9-9960X versus 6906 for the i5-3470 — a 0.5% difference that belies the massive performance gap in individual tests. This discrepancy stems from the i5-3470 having additional PassMark tests in its benchmark suite, which pull its average upward, while the i9-9960X only has Cinebench and Geekbench results. The percentile ranking for both processors is identical at 63, meaning they sit at the same position relative to all CPUs in the database, despite their starkly different performance profiles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the consistency of the margin. Across all Cinebench tests, the i9-9960X leads by percentages between 534.8% and 537.5%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-9960X scores 25120 against the i5-3470's 3957, a 534.8% advantage. The single-core R23 result shows 3546 versus 558, a 535.5% lead. This near-identical margin across both single and multi-threaded workloads suggests the performance gap is fundamental, not workload-specific. The Cinebench R20 tests follow the same pattern: 10550 versus 1661 for multi-core (535.2% delta) and 1489 versus 234 for single-core (536.3% delta). Cinebench R15 shows 2532 versus 398 (536.2%) and 357 versus 56 (537.5%) respectively.

Geekbench results reveal a slightly different story. The multi-core test shows a 421.7% advantage for the i9-9960X, with scores of 10512 versus 2015. However, the single-core Geekbench test produces the smallest margin of any comparison: 1396 versus 715, a 95.2% lead. This is still a near-doubling of performance, but it is dramatically less than the 535% margins seen in Cinebench. The implication is that the i5-3470's Ivy Bridge architecture holds up relatively better in single-threaded Geekbench workloads, while the i9-9960X's Skylake-X design with its higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz and 16 cores versus 4 cores dominates heavily threaded tasks. The win count is decisive: 8 wins for the i9-9960X, 0 for the i5-3470.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity about raw performance: the Intel Core i9-9960X is categorically faster in every measured test. The smallest advantage is 95.2% in Geekbench single-core, while the largest reaches 537.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. For workloads that scale with cores and threads — such as rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing — the i9-9960X's 16 cores and 32 threads versus the i5-3470's 4 cores and 4 threads produce the massive 421.7% to 536.2% multi-core deltas. The i5-3470 does not win a single benchmark, and its best relative showing comes in Geekbench single-core, where its 3.20 GHz base clock and 3.60 GHz boost clock partially offset its older architecture. However, the i5-3470's lower TDP of 77 watts versus 165 watts indicates it draws significantly less power, which the data supports as a practical consideration for system builders. The i9-9960X carries a launch MSRP of $1684, while the i5-3470 had a launch MSRP of $184. For anyone prioritizing maximum throughput per dollar, the data does not support the i9-9960X; for anyone prioritizing maximum performance in multi-threaded applications, the data does not support the i5-3470.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the i9-9960X in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i9-9960X scores 3546 versus the i5-3470's 558, resulting in a 535.5% advantage. This is one of the larger single-core margins in the comparison.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between these two processors?

A: The smallest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the i9-9960X scores 1396 and the i5-3470 scores 715, a 95.2% lead. This is the only test where the i5-3470 gets close to half the i9-9960X's performance.

Q: Does the i5-3470 win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The head-to-head results show 8 wins for the Intel Core i9-9960X and 0 wins for the Intel Core i5-3470 across all Cinebench and Geekbench tests.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The i9-9960X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-3470 supports dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. The i9-9960X has over three times the memory bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both are listed as end-of-life production status. The i9-9960X was released on 2018-10-18, and the i5-3470 was released on 2012-05-31.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i9-9960X has an average benchmark score of 6938, and the i5-3470 has an average of 6906. This 0.5% difference is misleading because the i5-3470 includes PassMark tests in its average that the i9-9960X lacks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification. The i9-9960X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.10 GHz for the i9-9960X and 3.20 GHz for the i5-3470, but boost clocks differ substantially at 4.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. TDP ratings show 165 watts for the i9-9960X and 77 watts for the i5-3470. The i9-9960X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the i5-3470 uses Intel Socket 1155. Memory support differs: the i9-9960X uses DDR4 with quad-channel access, while the i5-3470 uses DDR3 with dual-channel access. Memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes differ at 44 for the i9-9960X and 16 for the i5-3470, both Gen 3. The i9-9960X has an unlocked multiplier, while the i5-3470 does not. The i5-3470 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500), while the i9-9960X has none. Launch MSRP values are $1684 for the i9-9960X and $184 for the i5-3470.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i9-9960X is built on Skylake-X architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the i5-3470 uses Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the die sizes differ sharply: 484 mm² for the i9-9960X versus 160 mm² for the i5-3470. The i5-3470 lists 1,400 million transistors, while the i9-9960X does not report a transistor count. Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The i9-9960X has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i5-3470 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. L3 cache is 22 MB shared for the i9-9960X versus 6 MB shared for the i5-3470. The i9-9960X's codename is Skylake-X, and it is part of the Core i9 X-Series 9th Generation, while the i5-3470 is simply Ivy Bridge from the Core i5 Ivy Bridge generation. The i9-9960X supports ECC memory only as false, and so does the i5-3470. Both are desktop market segments, both are end-of-life, and both have part numbers (SREZ4 for the i9-9960X, SR0T8 for the i5-3470).

Where Each One Wins

The i9-9960X wins every benchmark category where data exists. Its largest victories come in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads, where the 16-core/32-thread configuration produces deltas of 534.8% to 536.2%. For applications that use more than four threads — video rendering, 3D modeling, compiler workloads, or scientific simulations — the i9-9960X is the only choice supported by the data. Its quad-channel memory bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth also give it a clear edge in memory-intensive tasks. The single-core Geekbench result, while still a win at 95.2% ahead, is the closest contest. This suggests that for lightly threaded legacy applications or simple office tasks, the i5-3470's deficit narrows to roughly half the i9-9960X's performance rather than one-sixth. The i5-3470's only advantages are its lower TDP of 77 watts, its integrated graphics, and its lower launch MSRP. The data shows no scenario where the i5-3470 outperforms the i9-9960X in throughput. However, for a system constrained by power delivery or cooling capacity, the i5-3470's 77-watt TDP versus 165 watts makes it the more feasible option in compact builds. For any benchmark measured here, the i9-9960X is the definitive winner.