Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Core i5-5200U Comparison

# Intel Core i5-5200U vs Intel Core i5-3470T

The Intel Core i5-5200U and Intel Core i5-3470T are two dual-core processors aimed at very different points in Intel's lineup. The 5200U is a Broadwell-U mobile part, engineered for power efficiency in thin-and-light laptops, while the 3470T is an Ivy Bridge desktop processor designed for compact, low-profile systems. The benchmark data in the database reveals a clear performance hierarchy between them, with the desktop part taking a decisive lead in multi-threaded workloads. This analysis breaks down the recorded scores, architectural differences, and the data-driven verdict for system builders.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains seven direct benchmark comparisons between the Core i5-5200U and the Core i5-3470T, and the results are consistent. The desktop part, the i5-3470T, wins five of these seven tests outright. The two wins for the mobile 5200U come in the Geekbench tests, which is a significant split from the Cinebench suite.

In the Geekbench multicore test, the 5200U scores 1464 against 1102 for the 3470T. This is a 32.8% lead, the largest margin of victory for the mobile chip in any test. The Geekbench single-core test tells a similar story: the 5200U posts 742 to the 3470T's 560, a 32.5% advantage. These wins are notable because they run against the grain of the Cinebench results, suggesting the 5200U's architecture has particular strengths in the type of workloads Geekbench generates.

The Cinebench tests, however, are decisively in favor of the i5-3470T. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the 3470T scores 256, a 16.4% improvement over the 5200U's 214. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern: the 3470T produces 1069, which is 16.6% higher than the 5200U's 892. Moving to single-core results, the advantage narrows slightly. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the 3470T scores 150 against the 5200U's 126, a 16% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the 3470T at 2547 versus the 5200U's 2125, a 16.6% margin. The R23 single-core test mirrors this: the 3470T records 359, which is 16.4% ahead of the 5200U's 300.

The average benchmark score across all recorded tests tells the same story. The i5-3470T averages 863, while the i5-5200U averages 838. This 3% aggregate delta masks the large variance between test types, but the head-to-head results are what matter. In the workloads where the 3470T wins, it often does so by double-digit margins, whereas the 5200U's wins in Geekbench are equally significant.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two chips is fundamental. The i5-5200U is built on Intel's Broadwell architecture, using a 14 nm process, with a die size of 82 mm². The i5-3470T is an Ivy Bridge part, fabricated at 22 nm with a die size of 93.6 mm². Both are true dual-core parts, each with four threads, but they diverge in almost every other design detail.

The 5200U is a mobile-first part. It uses the "Broadwell-U" codename, and is built on the BGA 1168 socket. The 3470T uses the "Ivy Bridge" codename, is based on the LGA 1150 socket, and targets the desktop market. This positioning difference is the clearest indicator of expected thermal and power envelopes: the 5200U has a 15W TDP, while the 3470T has a 35W TDP. The mobile part is designed for constrained chassis, while the desktop part has more headroom to sustain higher sustained workloads.

Cache topology is also different. The 5200U has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, and a 3 MB shared L3 cache. The 3470T has the same per-core L1 and L2 structure (64 KB and 256 KB respectively), but a 3 MB shared L3 as well. The total L3 allocation is identical, but the memory controller and bus interface are not the same.

The 5200U supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The 3470T also supports DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration. The database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for the 3470T, suggesting a difference in the memory subsystem's rated capability. Another critical feature is the integrated graphics. The 5200U uses the Intel HD 5500, while the 3470T uses the Intel HD 2500. The 5200U's graphics core is also in the "Mobile" market segment, whereas the 3470T is in the "Desktop" segment.

A key difference in PCIe support: the 5200U is listed with Gen 2, 12 lanes (CPU only), while the 3470T is listed with Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). This is a significant differentiator for platforms that rely on the CPU's PCIe connectivity.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous in its verdict: for users building a desktop system, the Core i5-3470T is the stronger processor. It wins the majority of the multi-threaded Cinebench tests, often by a 16% margin, and also takes the single-core Cinebench tests by the same margin. This indicates that the Ivy Bridge desktop chip is more consistently efficient across the Cinebench workload.

The Core i5-5200U's only clear wins are in the Geekbench suite, where it leads by more than 32% in both multi-core and single-core tests. This suggests its architectural design is better suited to the mix of tasks in Geekbench, a synthetic, system-level test. For general speculation, productivity, and heavy workstation-type tasks, the i5-3470T is the safer pick. For a system that will run Geekbench-oriented tasks, the 5200U has an edge, but the rest of the data indicates that the desktop part is the stronger overall.

The 3470T's higher TDP also suggests it can maintain its performance over longer periods of time without thermal throttling. The 5200U, in a thin-and-light chassis, would have a more limited sustained performance envelope.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5200U | Intel Core i5-3470T |

|---|---|---|

| Process | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Ivy Bridge |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory | DDR3 | DDR3 |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | Feb 28, 2015 | Apr 31, 2012 |

| Part Number | SR23Y | SR0RJ |

| Launch MSRP | $281 (stated once) | None |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

The Intel Core i5-3470T scores 2547, versus 2125 for the Core i5-5200U. The 3470T is 16.6% faster in this multi-threaded rendering test.

Q: What is the aggregate benchmark score?

The database puts the Core i5-3470T at 863, while the Core i5-5200U is at 838. The desktop chip's average is 0.3% higher.

Q: Where does the 5200U win?

The 5200U leads in the Geekbench tests: it scores 1464 in multi-core, 32.8% higher than the 3470T's 1102, and 742 in single-core, 32.5% higher than the 560.

Q: Are the cache sizes the same?

Yes, both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The memory configuration is identical.

Q: Which part has the more modern architecture?

The Core i5-5200U is on a 14 nm process, under the Core i5-3470T's 22 nm. The 5200U's "Broadwell-U" architecture is newer than the 3470T's "Ivy Bridge".

Q: Which part has the higher TDP?

The Core i5-3470T has a 35W TDP, more than double the 5200U's 15W figure. The desktop part is designed for a higher sustained load.