Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i5-3475S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3470S and Intel Core i5-3475S are nearly identical twins from the same Ivy Bridge generation, sharing the same 4-core/4-thread layout, 2.90 GHz base clock, 3.60 GHz boost clock, 65W TDP, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The benchmark data reveals a razor-thin split: the i5-3470S takes six of the eight head-to-head tests, while the i5-3475S counters with two wins in Geekbench. Both processors sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1095 and 1091 respectively, placing them in the same performance tier as mobile i7 parts from the Sandy Bridge era.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3470S establishes its advantage across the Cinebench suite, which stresses sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it posts 373 against the i5-3475S’s 371, a 0.5% margin. That lead expands slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i5-3470S scores 1558 versus 1547, a 0.7% edge. The gap persists in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the i5-3470S reaching 3711 compared to 3685, again 0.7% ahead. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the i5-3470S wins R15 single-core by a 52-to-52 tie (0% delta), then pulls ahead by 0.9% in R20 single-core (220 vs 218) and 0.8% in R23 single-core (524 vs 520). For users running CPU-bound rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with Cinebench-style performance, the i5-3470S is the consistent pick.

The i5-3475S fights back in Geekbench, which measures a broader mix of integer, floating-point, and memory patterns. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 1731 against the i5-3470S’s 1726, a 0.3% reversal. Its single-core advantage is more pronounced: 607 versus 599, a 1.3% lead. This indicates that in certain everyday tasks — web browsing, office productivity, light photo editing — the i5-3475S can edge out its sibling, despite losing in the more render-focused Cinebench tests. The Geekbench wins are modest, but they are real, giving the i5-3475S a niche for general-purpose responsiveness.

The overall win tally favors the i5-3470S at 6–2, but the magnitude of those wins is small. The largest single margin across the entire comparison is the 1.3% Geekbench single-core victory for the i5-3475S. Neither chip dominates the other by a meaningful margin; the data suggests they trade blows at the margins, with the i5-3470S taking the rendering crown and the i5-3475S claiming the system-level benchmark.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i5-3470S is the better choice for compute-heavy tasks that resemble Cinebench’s rendering pipeline. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with multicore margins between 0.5% and 0.7% and single-core margins between 0% and 0.9%. If the workload is video transcoding, 3D rendering, or batch photo processing, the i5-3470S’s consistent edge — however small — makes it the safer pick. Its average benchmark score of 1095 also sits 0.4% above the i5-3475S’s 1091, reinforcing its overall lead.

The Intel Core i5-3475S is the pick for general desktop use where Geekbench-style performance matters more. Its 1.3% single-core win and 0.3% multicore win in Geekbench suggest it handles common applications with slightly better responsiveness. For a machine that boots, browses, and runs office software, that margin could translate to perceptible snappiness. The i5-3475S also carries the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, versus the HD 2500 on the i5-3470S, which matters if the system runs without a discrete GPU — though the CPU benchmark data does not quantify that difference.

There is no wrong choice here. Both parts share the same core configuration, clocks, TDP, and cache. The i5-3470S wins the benchmark count, but the i5-3475S wins the two tests that are most representative of everyday computing. Users who prioritize raw render throughput should take the i5-3470S; those who want a slight edge in general-purpose benchmarks should take the i5-3475S. The 0.4% difference in average score — 1095 versus 1091 — is statistically negligible in real-world terms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Intel Core i5-3470S comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 220 against the i5-3475S’s 218, a 0.9% delta. That is its largest margin of victory in any test. Close behind is Cinebench R23 single-core, with 524 versus 520, a 0.8% lead. In multicore tests, the i5-3470S’s advantage holds steady: Cinebench R20 multicore shows 1558 versus 1547 (0.7%), and Cinebench R23 multicore shows 3711 versus 3685 (0.7%). Cinebench R15 multicore is the tightest of its wins, 373 versus 371, a 0.5% margin, while Cinebench R15 single-core is an exact 52-to-52 tie.

The Intel Core i5-3475S’s largest win is Geekbench single-core, where it posts 607 against 599, a 1.3% delta — the single biggest performance gap in the entire comparison. Its other victory is Geekbench multicore, 1731 versus 1726, a 0.3% edge. These Geekbench results are notable because they invert the Cinebench trend: the i5-3475S wins the two tests where the i5-3470S loses, and it does so by a slightly larger combined margin. The i5-3475S’s 1.3% single-core win outweighs the i5-3470S’s 0.9% single-core win, making the Geekbench results the more decisive of the two.

Across all eight tests, the average delta favors the i5-3470S by a hair. Its wins range from 0.5% to 0.9%, while its losses range from 0.3% to 1.3%. The i5-3475S’s Geekbench single-core win is the outlier in magnitude, but it is not enough to overcome the i5-3470S’s broader consistency. For anyone comparing these two chips, the head-to-head numbers show a near-tie, with the i5-3470S slightly ahead in render workloads and the i5-3475S slightly ahead in system-level tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S has an average benchmark score of 1095, while the Intel Core i5-3475S scores 1091, a 0.4% difference in favor of the i5-3470S.

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

A: The i5-3470S sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-2670QM (1096), Intel Core i7-4610M (1094), Intel Core i7-2710QE (1096), and Intel Core i7-4600M (1093). The i5-3475S matches the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 (1091) at 0% delta, and is within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-10510Y (1092), Intel Core i7-4600M (1093), and AMD Athlon 220GE (1088).

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The i5-3470S scores 3711, and the i5-3475S scores 3685, giving the i5-3470S a 0.7% advantage in that test.

Q: In which benchmark does the i5-3475S have its largest lead?

A: The i5-3475S leads by 1.3% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 607 versus the i5-3470S’s 599. That is the largest margin in any head-to-head test.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the i5-3470S and i5-3475S feature 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks.

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmark tests overall?

A: The i5-3470S wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head tests, with the i5-3475S taking the remaining 2 Geekbench tests.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel’s foundry. They share the same socket (Intel Socket 1155), the same 4-core/4-thread configuration, and the same dual-channel DDR3 memory support with Gen 3 PCIe (16 lanes CPU-only). The L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 is 256 KB per core on both, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both were released on the same date, 2012-05-31, and carry the same 65W TDP.

The key architectural difference lies in the integrated graphics. The i5-3475S ships with Intel HD 4000, while the i5-3470S uses Intel HD 2500. This is the primary spec-level distinction between the two parts, and it explains why the i5-3475S’s die size is larger: 160 mm² versus 133 mm² for the i5-3470S. The i5-3475S also lists a transistor count of 1,400 million, whereas the i5-3470S does not report one in the data. The larger die and additional graphics hardware on the i5-3475S do not translate into higher CPU performance — in fact, the i5-3470S wins most CPU benchmarks despite the smaller die.

The part numbers differ, with the i5-3470S identified as SR0TA and the i5-3475S as SR0PP. Both are classified as Desktop market segment parts from the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation. The i5-3470S’s nearest rivals include mobile quad-core i7 parts like the i7-2670QM and i7-2710QE, while the i5-3475S’s rivals skew toward lower-power parts like the Pentium Gold G5400 and Core i7-10510Y. This suggests the i5-3475S’s performance profile aligns more closely with entry-level modern chips, while the i5-3470S edges toward older high-end mobile silicon.

The integrated graphics difference is the only hardware feature that separates the two beyond benchmark scores. For systems relying on the CPU’s built-in GPU, the i5-3475S’s HD 4000 is the superior option, but the CPU benchmark data does not measure graphics performance. In pure processor terms, the architecture is otherwise identical: same clocks, same cache, same memory support, same process node. The die size and transistor count differences are direct consequences of the GPU block, not the CPU cores.