Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Xeon D-2775TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon D-2775TE dominates the Intel Core i5-3470 in every recorded benchmark comparison. The database records six head-to-head tests, and the Xeon wins all six. The margin is consistent and severe, with the Xeon leading by roughly 83% in every test. This is not a close contest by any measure.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i5-3470 scores 398 against the Xeon D-2775TE's 2338. That is an 83% deficit for the older desktop chip. The single-core R15 test shows the same gap: 56 versus 330, again an 83% difference. The Xeon's advantage holds across the entire Cinebench suite. In R20 multicore, the i5-3470 records 1661, while the Xeon reaches 9745. The R20 single-core result is 234 against 1375. The R23 multicore test shows 3957 versus 23204, a 82.9% difference, and the R23 single-core test shows 558 versus 3275, another 83% gap.

The pattern is clear: the Xeon D-2775TE is roughly six times faster in multicore workloads and nearly six times faster in single-core workloads. The delta percentages are nearly identical across all tests, which indicates that the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental difference in capability. The i5-3470's best result, its R23 multicore score of 3957, is barely above the Xeon's R15 multicore score of 2338. The Xeon's R23 multicore result of 23204 is nearly six times the i5's best multicore score.

The single-core results deserve attention. The i5-3470 has a higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz compared to the Xeon's 3.10 GHz. Yet the Xeon still wins single-core tests by 83%. This indicates that architectural improvements in the Xeon, such as the newer Ice Lake core design, more than compensate for the lower clock speed. The i5's Ivy Bridge architecture, despite its higher boost clock, cannot match the per-core efficiency of the newer design.

Outside the head-to-head set, the broader benchmark database shows similar trends. The i5-3470 scores 2015 in Geekbench multicore and 715 in single-core. The Xeon D-2775TE does not have Geekbench results in the database, but its Cinebench scores are sufficient to establish the hierarchy. The i5's Passmark results, including 14840 in integer math and 10871 in floating point math, are not directly comparable to the Xeon because the Xeon lacks those specific tests in the database. Still, the six head-to-head tests provide a complete picture of the performance relationship.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE wins every single-core test in the database. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 330 versus the Core i5-3470's 56. In R20 single-core, it scores 1375 versus 234. In R23 single-core, it scores 3275 versus 558. The margin is 83% in each case.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE leads by 83% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. The R23 multicore scores are 23204 for the Xeon and 3957 for the i5-3470. The Xeon's multicore score is roughly six times higher than the i5's.

Q: Does the Core i5-3470 have any benchmark wins?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the Core i5-3470 across the six head-to-head tests. The Xeon D-2775TE wins all six.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Core i5-3470 has an average benchmark score of 6906, placing it at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon D-2775TE has an average benchmark score of 6711, placing it at the 62nd percentile. Despite the Xeon's dominance in the head-to-head tests, the average scores are close because the i5 has more benchmark results in the database.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core i5-3470's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon W-2195, which scores 6892, a 0.2% difference. The Xeon D-2775TE's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 5317, which scores 6710, a 0% difference. Both processors sit in a tightly packed performance tier relative to their peers.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE supports quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i5-3470 supports dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is nearly four times higher.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Xeon D-2775TE is the superior processor in every measured category. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks by an 83% margin. The Core i5-3470 does not win a single test. For any workload that relies on CPU compute, the Xeon D-2775TE is the correct choice.

The Xeon's 16 cores and 32 threads provide massive parallel throughput compared to the i5's 4 cores and 4 threads. The benchmark results reflect this hardware difference. The Xeon's R23 multicore score of 23204 is in a different performance class entirely from the i5's 3957. Even in single-core tests, where the i5's higher boost clock might suggest an advantage, the Xeon wins decisively due to its newer architecture.

The Core i5-3470's only potential advantage is its lower TDP of 77 watts versus the Xeon's 100 watts. But the benchmark data does not show any performance benefit from that efficiency. The i5 also has integrated graphics, the Intel HD 2500, while the Xeon has none. For a system that requires a discrete GPU anyway, this is irrelevant. For a desktop user who needs integrated graphics and minimal compute, the i5 might suffice. But for any serious computing task, the Xeon D-2775TE is the clear winner.

The percentile rankings are close, with the i5 at 63 and the Xeon at 62, but this is misleading. The i5's percentile is based on a broader set of benchmarks, including Passmark tests that the Xeon does not have. The head-to-head tests, which directly compare the two on identical workloads, show a massive and consistent gap. The verdict is simple: choose the Xeon D-2775TE for performance, choose the Core i5-3470 only if the workload is trivial or the platform requires legacy desktop features.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads. The i5's base clock is 3.20 GHz with a boost of 3.60 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is 2000.00 MHz, which equals 2.00 GHz, with a boost of 3.10 GHz. The i5's TDP is 77 watts, the Xeon's is 100 watts.

The sockets are incompatible. The i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the Xeon uses Intel BGA 2579. The i5 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 93.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the i5 does not. The i5 has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, the Xeon has 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The i5 has integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics, the Xeon has no integrated graphics.

The cache hierarchies are completely different. The i5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The Xeon's L3 cache is more than four times larger. The process nodes also differ: the i5 uses 22 nm, the Xeon uses 10 nm.

Architecture Differences

The Core i5-3470 is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, released in 2012, while the Xeon D-2775TE uses the Ice Lake architecture, released in 2022. The i5 has a die size of 160 mm² with 1,400 million transistors. The Xeon's die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database. The i5 uses a 22 nm process, the Xeon uses a 10 nm process. This process advantage allows the Xeon to pack 16 cores into a similar power envelope as the i5's 4 cores.

The i5's generation is listed as Core i5 (Ivy Bridge), while the Xeon's generation is Xeon D (Ice Lake-D). The codenames are Ivy Bridge and Ice Lake-D respectively. The Xeon's L1 cache is 80 KB per core versus the i5's 64 KB per core. The L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is 25 MB shared versus 6 MB shared. The larger caches, combined with the newer architecture, explain the Xeon's decisive benchmark advantage.

The i5 has a desktop market segment, while the Xeon targets server and workstation use. The i5 is end-of-life, the Xeon is still active. The i5's launch MSRP was $184, the Xeon's was $1751. The i5's part number is SR0T8, the Xeon's is SRM26SRLCM. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-2775TE wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. Its 16 cores and 32 threads make it ideal for heavily parallel workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show the Xeon at roughly six times the i5's performance. The Xeon's quad-channel DDR4 memory with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth provides a substantial advantage for memory-intensive tasks. Its 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes support high-bandwidth peripherals, while the i5's 16 Gen 3 lanes are limited.

The Xeon also wins in single-core performance, despite the i5's higher boost clock. The Ice Lake architecture's per-core efficiency overcomes the 3.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz clock disadvantage. For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, such as lightly threaded applications or real-time processing, the Xeon still comes out ahead by 83%.

The Core i5-3470 has no benchmark wins in the database. Its advantages are limited to non-performance factors. It has a lower TDP of 77 watts, which may be preferable in power-constrained environments. It has integrated graphics, allowing a system to operate without a discrete GPU. It uses the older LGA 1155 socket, which may be compatible with existing motherboards. It supports only DDR3 memory, which is cheaper but slower.

For a user building a new system, the Xeon D-2775TE is the only sensible choice based on the data. For a user upgrading an existing Ivy Bridge platform, the i5-3470 might be a drop-in replacement, but its performance is far below the Xeon's. The database shows no scenario where the i5-3470 outperforms the Xeon D-2775TE. The Xeon wins every measured test, and the margins are consistent and large. The verdict is straightforward: the Xeon D-2775TE is the superior processor in all compute-oriented tasks.