Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Xeon Gold 5317 Comparison

Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Xeon Gold 5317

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous picture: the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 wins every single recorded comparison, and it does so by a consistent and massive margin. Across six tests spanning Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Xeon Gold 5317 delivers roughly 83% higher scores in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The deltas are remarkably uniform, ranging from 82.9% to 83% in favor of the Xeon, which indicates that the performance gap is not workload-dependent but rather a fundamental difference in capability.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon Gold 5317 scores 2338 against the Core i5-3470's 398. That is a 83% advantage. The single-core R15 result tells the same story: 330 versus 56, again a 83% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 9743 multi-core and 1375 single-core, while the i5-3470 manages 1661 and 234 respectively. The R23 results are the most dramatic: the Xeon Gold 5317 reaches 23199 multi-core, compared to the i5-3470's 3957, and 3275 single-core versus 558.

These numbers are not close. The Xeon Gold 5317 is roughly five times faster in multi-core Cinebench R23, and nearly six times faster in single-core R23. The percentile rankings place both processors similarly relative to all CPUs: the i5-3470 sits at the 63rd percentile with an average benchmark score of 6906, while the Xeon Gold 5317 sits at the 62nd percentile with an average score of 6710. Despite the Xeon's overwhelming win in these head-to-head tests, its aggregate database score is slightly lower, which reflects the different mix of benchmarks each processor has been subjected to in the database.

The nearest rivals for each chip put their performance tiers in context. The Core i5-3470's closest competitors include the Intel Xeon W-2195 (0.2% higher average score), the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i9-9960X (0.5% lower). The Xeon Gold 5317 sits alongside the Intel Xeon D-2775TE (0% difference), the AMD EPYC 72F3 (0.2% higher), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX (0.7% lower). These rivalries show that both processors occupy similar overall standings in the database, even though the head-to-head comparison is overwhelmingly one-sided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 scores 23199 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-3470 scores 3957. The Xeon Gold 5317 leads by 82.9%.

Q: Is the Core i5-3470 faster in any benchmark?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the Xeon Gold 5317 winning all six tests: Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The Core i5-3470 has zero wins.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Xeon Gold 5317 leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3275 versus 558 for the i5-3470, a 83% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 330 versus 56, also a 83% gap.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the Xeon Gold 5317, which supports ECC memory. The Core i5-3470 does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two CPUs?

A: The Core i5-3470 is end-of-life, while the Xeon Gold 5317 is active and still in production.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Core i5-3470 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon Gold 5317 supports DDR4 memory with an eight-channel bus and 187.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural eras and market segments. The Core i5-3470 is built on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, produced by Intel with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It was released in 2012 and targets the desktop market. The Xeon Gold 5317 uses the Ice Lake-SP architecture on a 10 nm process node, also produced by Intel, and was released in 2021 for the server and workstation segment.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Both have a 3.60 GHz boost clock, but the base clocks differ: the i5-3470 runs at 3.20 GHz, the Xeon at 3.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy is also quite different. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache jumps from 256 KB per core on the i5 to 1 MB per core on the Xeon. The L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i5-3470 versus 18 MB shared on the Xeon Gold 5317.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The Core i5-3470 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon Gold 5317 uses DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and 187.7 GB/s bandwidth, over seven times the memory bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not. PCIe capabilities reflect their different generations: the i5-3470 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon Gold 5317 has Gen 4 with 64 lanes from the CPU.

The Core i5-3470 includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 2500, while the Xeon Gold 5317 has no integrated graphics at all. The i5-3470 has a 77 W TDP, whereas the Xeon Gold 5317 has a 150 W TDP. The sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 4189. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data leaves no room for ambiguity. The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, with a consistent 83% lead across all six head-to-head tests. Any workload that relies on CPU performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, will be dramatically faster on the Xeon Gold 5317.

The Core i5-3470's only advantages are its lower 77 W TDP, its integrated graphics, and its legacy platform. It is an end-of-life desktop part from 2012, and the benchmark results confirm its age. The Xeon Gold 5317 is an active server and workstation part from 2021 with 12 cores, 24 threads, ECC memory support, eight-channel DDR4, and Gen 4 PCIe.

For anyone building a system today, the Xeon Gold 5317 is the clear choice. It offers roughly 83% higher scores in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core. The only scenario where the i5-3470 makes sense is if the specific requirement is a low-power desktop platform with integrated graphics and an older socket, but from a pure performance standpoint, the Xeon Gold 5317 wins outright.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Core i5-3470 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, with both sharing a 3.60 GHz boost clock. TDP is 77 W for the i5 and 150 W for the Xeon.

The architecture and process node are completely different: Ivy Bridge on 22 nm versus Ice Lake-SP on 10 nm. The i5-3470 has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the Xeon's transistor count and die size are not recorded. L2 cache is 256 KB per core on the i5 versus 1 MB per core on the Xeon. L3 cache is 6 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory support diverges sharply: DDR3 dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth versus DDR4 eight-channel with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is unsupported on the i5 and supported on the Xeon. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 64 lanes. The i5 has Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics; the Xeon has none. The i5 uses Socket 1155, the Xeon uses Socket 4189. The i5 is end-of-life; the Xeon is active. The i5 was released in 2012, the Xeon in 2021. The i5 has a recorded launch MSRP of $184; the Xeon has no launch MSRP recorded. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 wins every benchmark category in the head-to-head data. It is the choice for multi-threaded workloads like rendering, simulation, and server-side processing, where its 12 cores and 24 threads produce scores like 23199 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also wins single-threaded workloads, with 3275 in Cinebench R23 single-core, so even lightly threaded applications run faster on it.

The Core i5-3470 has no benchmark wins in the recorded data. Its strengths lie outside raw performance: it has a 77 W TDP versus 150 W, meaning lower power draw. It includes integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks. It uses the older Socket 1155 platform and DDR3 memory, which may be relevant for anyone maintaining a legacy desktop system. Its end-of-life status and 2012 release date make it a historical part rather than a competitive option.

In practical terms, the Xeon Gold 5317 is the processor for any workload where CPU performance matters. The Core i5-3470 is the processor for a low-power, integrated-graphics desktop build on an older platform. The benchmark data shows no scenario where the i5-3470 outperforms the Xeon Gold 5317.