Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Core i7-2670QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2670QM and Intel Core i5-3470S are two processors from different Intel generations and market segments, yet they land remarkably close in overall average benchmark scores. The i7-2670QM, a mobile Sandy Bridge part, averages 1096 across all benchmarks, while the i5-3470S, a desktop Ivy Bridge chip, averages 1095. That 0.1% difference places them as direct rivals in the database, with the i7-2710QE and i7-4610M also hovering within a 0.2% delta. The data tells a story of two very different design philosophies converging on similar performance, but the head-to-head results reveal a clear sweep.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3470S wins all seven recorded tests. The most lopsided victories come in the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3470S scores 373 against the i7-2670QM’s 320, a 14.2% advantage. That pattern repeats almost identically across newer Cinebench versions: R20 multi-core shows 1558 versus 1334 (14.4% ahead), and R23 multi-core shows 3711 versus 3177 (also 14.4% ahead). The single-core Cinebench tests are even more decisive in percentage terms. The i5-3470S leads by 14.5% in both R20 single-core (220 vs 188) and R23 single-core (524 vs 448).

The Geekbench results tighten the gap considerably, though the i5-3470S still comes out on top. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-3470S scores 1726 versus 1646 for the i7-2670QM, a 4.6% edge. The single-core Geekbench test shows a 7.2% lead for the i5-3470S, with scores of 599 and 556, respectively. The pattern suggests that the i5-3470S’s advantage grows in sustained, multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench, while the gap narrows in the more mixed Geekbench workload. Notably, the i7-2670QM has 8 threads versus the i5-3470S’s 4, yet still loses every multi-core test — a direct indication that raw thread count does not compensate for the architectural and clock-speed deficits.

Architecture Differences

The underlying architectures explain the benchmark sweep. The i7-2670QM is built on Sandy Bridge at 32 nm, while the i5-3470S uses Ivy Bridge at 22 nm. That process shrink translates to a smaller die: the i7-2670QM measures 216 mm² with 1,160 million transistors, whereas the i5-3470S’s die is only 133 mm². The i5-3470S also runs at higher clocks, with a base of 2.90 GHz and a boost of 3.60 GHz, compared to the i7-2670QM’s 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. Both chips have 4 physical cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache, but the i7-2670QM adds Hyper-Threading for 8 logical threads, while the i5-3470S is limited to 4 threads.

The cache hierarchy is otherwise identical: 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. Memory support differs in that the i5-3470S explicitly lists DDR3 support, while the i7-2670QM has no memory support field in the data; both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-3470S also brings PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-2670QM has no PCIe field listed. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-2670QM carries Intel HD 3000, while the i5-3470S uses Intel HD 2500. The sockets are incompatible — Intel Socket G2 (988B) for the mobile chip versus Intel Socket 1155 for the desktop part — reinforcing their distinct market positions. The i7-2670QM is a 45 W mobile part, while the i5-3470S is a 65 W desktop processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads, and why does that not translate to a benchmark win?

A: The Intel Core i7-2670QM has 8 threads (4 cores with Hyper-Threading), while the Intel Core i5-3470S has only 4 threads (4 cores without Hyper-Threading). Despite the 4-thread deficit, the i5-3470S wins all multi-core benchmarks, including Cinebench R23 multi-core (3711 vs 3177), indicating that its higher clock speeds and newer Ivy Bridge architecture outweigh the missing threads.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap between the two chips?

A: The i5-3470S leads by 14.5% in both Cinebench R20 single-core (220 vs 188) and Cinebench R23 single-core (524 vs 448). In Geekbench single-core, the lead narrows to 7.2% (599 vs 556). The consistent Cinebench edge suggests a substantial per-core advantage for the desktop part.

Q: Are the two processors on the same socket?

A: No. The i7-2670QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), which is a mobile socket, while the i5-3470S uses Intel Socket 1155 for desktops. They are not interchangeable, and the i5-3470S is listed as a Desktop market segment part, while the i7-2670QM is Mobile.

Q: What is the difference in manufacturing process and die size?

A: The i7-2670QM is fabricated on Intel’s 32 nm process with a die size of 216 mm² and 1,160 million transistors. The i5-3470S uses a smaller 22 nm process, resulting in a die size of 133 mm². The transistor count for the i5-3470S is not listed in the data.

Q: Which chip has higher boost and base clock speeds?

A: The i5-3470S has both a higher base clock (2.90 GHz vs 2.20 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.10 GHz). This clock advantage is likely a primary driver of its benchmark wins across all tested workloads.

Q: Do both processors have the same amount of L3 cache?

A: Yes, both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. They also share identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) cache configurations, making the cache hierarchy a non-factor in their performance differences.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is conclusive: the Intel Core i5-3470S outperforms the Intel Core i7-2670QM in every single recorded test. The i5-3470S wins all 7 head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from a modest 4.6% in Geekbench multi-core to a decisive 14.5% in Cinebench single-core tests. The i7-2670QM’s additional 4 threads fail to offset the i5-3470S’s higher clocks and newer 22 nm Ivy Bridge architecture. The i5-3470S also holds a slightly better percentile ranking among all CPUs (30th versus 31st), though the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1095 vs 1096). For any workload measured in this dataset — rendering, general computation, or single-threaded tasks — the i5-3470S is the clear choice. The i7-2670QM’s only advantages lie in its lower 45 W TDP and mobile form factor, but those are power and platform considerations, not performance benefits.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification except core count and cache size. The i7-2670QM has 8 threads versus 4 for the i5-3470S. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, favoring the i5-3470S. The TDP is 45 W for the mobile i7-2670QM and 65 W for the desktop i5-3470S. The i7-2670QM uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the i5-3470S uses Intel Socket 1155. Architecture differs by generation: Sandy Bridge at 32 nm versus Ivy Bridge at 22 nm. The die size is 216 mm² for the i7-2670QM versus 133 mm² for the i5-3470S, with the i7-2670QM listing 1,160 million transistors and the i5-3470S listing none. The i5-3470S explicitly supports DDR3 memory and has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i7-2670QM has no memory support or PCIe fields listed. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 3000 on the i7-2670QM versus Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3470S. The market segments are Mobile for the i7-2670QM and Desktop for the i5-3470S. Release dates are 2011-10-11 for the i7-2670QM and 2012-05-31 for the i5-3470S.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-3470S wins in every measurable category. It is the faster chip for multi-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by its 14.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3711 vs 3177) and 14.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (373 vs 320). It is also the faster chip for single-threaded tasks, with a 14.5% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core (524 vs 448) and R20 single-core (220 vs 188). Even in the more balanced Geekbench tests, the i5-3470S leads by 4.6% in multi-core (1726 vs 1646) and 7.2% in single-core (599 vs 556). The i7-2670QM has no benchmark wins in this dataset.

The only context where the i7-2670QM could be considered preferable is outside raw performance. Its 45 W TDP makes it a lower-power part than the 65 W i5-3470S, and it is designed for the mobile socket, meaning it fits in laptops rather than desktop motherboards. However, the data does not include any power efficiency benchmarks or thermal performance tests. For users selecting between these two for a build or upgrade, the i5-3470S is the superior processor in every benchmark recorded, with the i7-2670QM’s thread advantage proving irrelevant against the i5-3470S’s architectural and clock-speed superiority.