Intel Core i5-3470S vs Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3470S wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded between the two processors. It wins all five recorded comparisons, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in multi-core tests, plus R20 and R23 in single-core tests. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 records zero wins in the database. For users prioritizing multi-core throughput, the Core i5-3470S holds a consistent advantage across every rendering generation. Single-core results follow the same pattern, with the Core i5-3470S ahead in the two single-core tests available. There is no workload category in the recorded data where the Xeon E5-2603 v3 comes out on top. The Xeon does offer six cores versus four, along with a larger shared L3 cache and server-oriented features, but those advantages do not translate into benchmark victories in the recorded tests.

The Core i5-3470S also holds a marginal edge in average benchmark score, with 1095 points versus 1094 for the Xeon, a difference of only 0.1%. That margin is tiny, and the two processors sit at nearly identical percentile positions in the overall database distribution. The Xeon ranks at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i5-3470S ranks at the 30th percentile, a difference of a single percentage point. In practical terms, both chips occupy essentially the same performance tier according to the database average, but the head-to-head data shows the Core i5-3470S consistently converting that standing into wins where the two are directly compared.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target separate market segments. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is a Haswell-EP part built on a 22 nm process node, while the Core i5-3470S is an Ivy Bridge desktop processor also built on 22 nm. Both use the same process node and both are manufactured by Intel, but their underlying designs differ in core count, cache size, memory support, and platform integration.

The Xeon provides six physical cores with six threads, a base clock of 1600 MHz, and no boost clock listed. Its L3 cache is 15 MB shared, with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The Core i5-3470S supplies four cores and four threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its shared L3 cache is 6 MB, with the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes. The Xeon's larger cache and additional cores reflect its server/workstation role, while the Core i5's higher clock speeds reflect its desktop orientation.

Memory support differs substantially. The Xeon supports DDR4 over a quad-channel memory bus with recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Core i5-3470S supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded and no ECC support. The Xeon also offers more PCIe connectivity, with Gen 3 and 40 lanes, while the Core i5 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5 includes Intel HD 2500.

The physical package also differs: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, the Core i5 uses Intel Socket 1155. The Xeon has a die size of 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors, while the Core i5 uses a smaller 133 mm² die with no transistor count recorded. Both processors have locked multipliers. The Xeon launched with an MSRP of $213; the Core i5 has no recorded launch MSRP. The Xeon is marked end-of-life, while the Core i5 production status is not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and the Core i5-3470S wins every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i5 scores 373 against the Xeon's 323, a 13.4% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Core i5 scores 1558 versus 1346, a 13.6% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Core i5 at 3711 against 3207, again 13.6% ahead. The consistency of the multi-core gap across three different Cinebench versions is notable: the Core i5 holds roughly a 13.4% to 13.6% lead in every multi-core test.

Single-core results follow the same direction. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Core i5 scores 220 versus 189, a 14.1% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i5 scores 524 versus 452, a 13.7% lead. The single-core margins are slightly larger than the multi-core margins, which aligns with the Core i5's higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 1600 MHz) and its boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Xeon has no boost clock recorded.

Additional benchmark data available for the Core i5 but not the Xeon includes a Geekbench multi-core score of 1726 and a Geekbench single-core score of 599. These results are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they appear in the database for the Core i5. The Xeon has only Cinebench results recorded, so no Geekbench comparison is possible from the data.

The average benchmark score for the Xeon is 1103, with nearest rivals including the Intel Pentium Gold G6605 at 1103 (0% delta), the AMD PRO A12-9800 at 1104 (0.1% higher), and the Intel Pentium Gold G6500 at 1101 (0.2% lower). The Core i5-3470S has an average benchmark score of 1095, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i7-2670QM at 1096 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i7-4610M at 1094 (0.1% higher), and the Intel Core i7-2710QE at 1096 (0.1% higher). The Xeon sits at a slightly higher average score than the Core i5, 1103 versus 1095, a difference of 0.7%, but the head-to-head results show the Core i5 winning every direct comparison.

The Verdict

The verdict follows directly from the recorded data. The Intel Core i5-3470S wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Xeon E5-2603 v3 wins none. Buyers focused on Cinebench rendering performance should choose the Core i5-3470S across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The Core i5's advantage ranges from 13.4% to 13.7% in multi-core workloads and 14.1% in single-core Cinebench tests.

The Xeon remains the appropriate selection only when its platform-level features matter more than benchmark scores. It offers six cores, six threads, 15 MB of shared L3 cache, DDR4 quad-channel memory support with ECC, 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and a 356 mm² die size with 2,600 million transistors. None of those features appear in the head-to-head benchmark records, so a server/workstation deployment needing ECC memory support or elevated PCIe connectivity could still favor the Xeon despite the Core i5's benchmark wins.

The two chips are essentially equivalent in overall database standing. The Xeon ranks at the 31st percentile versus the Core i5 at the 30th percentile, a single percentage point apart, and average benchmark scores differ by less than 1%. In head-to-head tests, the Core i5 holds a consistent 13% lead in every test. For a desktop platform where Cinebench performance is the deciding factor, the benchmarks indicate the Core i5-3470S is the better processor, while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 serves a different role with server platforms where its ECC memory support and quad-channel memory or 40-lane PCIe connectivity add value.

Users upgrading from older desktop platforms should note the Core i5-3470S uses DDR3 dual-channel memory support and Socket 1155, while the Xeon uses DDR4 quad-channel on Socket 2011-3, so the choice of chip implies a full platform decision that goes beyond raw benchmark scores. The Core i5 also includes integrated graphics, Intel HD 40 GB/s of memory bandwidth, 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth in the Xeon, and no integrated graphics in the Core i5, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins all recorded benchmark comparisons between the Xeon E5-2603 v3 and Core i5-3470S?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded in the database, covering R15 multicore, R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, R20 single-core, and R23 single-core. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 wins zero recorded benchmark comparisons.

Q: How large is the Core i5-3470S advantage in multi-core performance over the Xeon?

A: In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i5 scores 373 versus 323, a 13.4% edge. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Core i5 at 1558 against 1346, a 13.6% lead, and R23 multi-core shows 3711 versus 3207, also 13.6% ahead.

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

A: The Core i5-3470S leads in Cinebench R20 single-core by 14.1% (220 versus 189) and in Cinebench R23 single-core by 13.7% (524 versus 452).

Q: What are the memory support differences between the Xeon and the Core i5?

A: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 supports DDR4 over a quad-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Core i5-3470S supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus and has no ECC support in the database records.

Q: Do the two CPUs share the same process node?

A: Yes, both the Xeon E5-2603 v3 and Core i5-3470S are built on Intel's 22 nm process node with Intel as the foundry, though they come from different architectures, with the Xeon Haswell-EP and the Core i5 Ivy Bridge.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads, and how does that affect benchmark results?

A: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has six cores and six threads, while the Core i5-3470S has four cores and four threads, but the Core i5-3470S wins every head-to-head benchmark despite the Xeon having more cores, six cores, six threads, the Xeon 3470S wins all five recorded benchmark comparisons, with the Core i5-3470S scoring 373 versus 323 in Cinebench R15 multi-core.

Specification Differences

Socket: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Core i5-3470S uses Intel Socket 1155.

Base Clock: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has a base clock of 1600 MHz, while the Core i5-3470S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz.

Boost Clock: The Xeon has no boost clock recorded, while the Core i5-3470S has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz.

Architecture: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 architecture is Haswell-EP, Core i5-3470S architecture is Ivy Bridge Ivy Bridge.

Cache L3: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 15 MB L3 cache shared, Core i5-3470S has 6 MB L3 cache shared 15 MB.

Memory Support: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 supports DDR4 quad-channel memory bus 51.2 GB/s, while the Core i5-3470S supports DDR3 dual-channel memory bus, no bandwidth recorded bandwidth recorded 51.2 GB/s ECC memory, DDR4.

ECC memory ECC: Xeon E5-2603 v3 has ECC memory support enabled, Core i5-3470S has ECC memory support disabled.

PCIe Gen 3, 40 lanes: Xeon E5-2603 v3 has PCIe Gen 3 with 40 40 lanes, Core i5-3470S has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 16 lanes, 40 40 lanes CPU only 16 16 lanes.

Integrated Graphics: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has no integrated graphics, Core i5-3470S has integrated graphics Intel HD 2500.

Die Size: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has die size 356 mm², Core i5-3470S has die size 133 mm².

L1/L2 cache per core: Xeon E5-2603 v3 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L1 64 KB per core L2 256 KB per core 64 KB per core L2 256 KB per core 356 mm².

Market Segment: Xeon E5-2603 v3 is a Server/Workstation processor, Core i5-3470S is a Desktop processor, Xeon E5-2603 v3 market segment Server/Desktop/Desktop 2014-09-07.

Transistors: Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 2,600 million 2,600 million transistors 2,600 million 133 mm².

Part Number: Xeon E5-2603 v3 part number SR20A, Core i5-3470S part number SR0TA.

Core i5-3470S 4 cores 4 threads 6 cores six threads 6 core i5-3470S 4 cores 4 threads 6 6 threads 4 4 threads.

Core i5-3470S 4 cores 4 threads 6 6 threads 4 4 threads 6 6 threads 6 core.