Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Core i5-5250U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3470T and Intel Core i5-5250U are two dual-core, four-thread processors from different eras and market segments, yet they land in the same performance percentile. Both CPUs sit at the 23rd percentile among all processors, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 863 for the i5-3470T versus 856 for the i5-5250U. The data reveals a stark split in their strengths, with the older desktop part dominating Cinebench workloads while the newer mobile chip takes a commanding lead in Geekbench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the benchmark data is the complete reversal of fortunes between the two test suites. In Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-3470T wins every single round with a consistent margin. Across four Cinebench iterations—R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core—the i5-3470T posts a 22.5% advantage over the i5-5250U. The R20 single-core test shows a nearly identical 22% lead. This uniformity suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than architectural superiority; the i5-3470T's 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks dwarf the i5-5250U's 1.60 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost.

The Cinebench R23 multicore result is emblematic: the i5-3470T scores 2547 against 2079 for the i5-5250U. The same 22.5% delta appears in Cinebench R15 multicore (256 vs. 209) and Cinebench R20 multicore (1069 vs. 873). These are decisive, repeatable wins that point to sustained throughput advantages in rendering-style workloads.

However, the Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-5250U scores 1587 versus 1102 for the i5-3470T—a 30.6% advantage for the mobile chip. The single-core Geekbench gap is even larger at 32.1%, with the i5-5250U posting 825 against 560. This is a dramatic divergence from the Cinebench results and suggests that Geekbench's workload mix rewards the i5-5250U's newer Broadwell architecture, its 14 nm process node, and possibly its integrated memory controller efficiency.

The head-to-head tally favors the i5-3470T with 5 wins out of 7 benchmarks, but the two Geekbench losses are substantial enough to nearly erase that advantage in the overall average. The i5-3470T's average benchmark score of 863 is just 0.8% higher than the i5-5250U's 856. In the nearest-rival context, the i5-3470T sits 0.1% above the Intel Xeon W3520 (862) and 0.4% above the Intel Core i7-4500U (859), while the i5-5250U matches the Intel Core i5-2500T exactly at 856 and trails the same i7-4500U by 0.4%.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3470T is the clear choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering and compute workloads, as evidenced by its perfect sweep of the Cinebench suite. Its 22.5% margins in R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests indicate that the higher clock speeds (2.90 GHz base, 3.60 GHz boost) translate directly into faster execution for CPU-bound tasks that scale with frequency. The 35W TDP, while higher than the mobile part, is still modest for a desktop chip and allows for consistent performance without thermal throttling concerns in a standard desktop chassis.

The i5-5250U dominates in Geekbench, which typically exercises a broader mix of integer, floating-point, and memory-access patterns. Its 30.6% multicore and 32.1% single-core advantages suggest that the Broadwell architecture's IPC improvements—enabled by the 14 nm process and 1,900 million transistors—more than compensate for the lower clock speeds in certain workloads. The i5-5250U also brings a more capable integrated GPU in the Intel HD 6000 versus the i5-3470T's Intel HD 2500, making it the better choice for light graphics tasks and media playback.

For mobile users, the i5-5250U's 15W TDP is decisive. The i5-3470T's 35W TDP is not suitable for ultraportable designs, whereas the i5-5250U fits into thin-and-light laptops with passive or low-noise cooling. The i5-5250U also supports DDR3 memory with a rated bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, which contributes to its Geekbench performance edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T edges out the i5-5250U with an average score of 863 versus 856, a difference of 0.8%.

Q: How does the i5-3470T perform in Cinebench R23 multicore compared to the i5-5250U?

A: The i5-3470T scores 2547 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 22.5% higher than the i5-5250U's 2079.

Q: What is the single biggest benchmark gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the i5-5250U leads by 32.1% with a score of 825 versus 560 for the i5-3470T.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the i5-3470T and i5-5250U are in the 23rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-5250U has a 15W TDP, compared to the 35W TDP of the i5-3470T.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The i5-3470T wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks, while the i5-5250U wins 2.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is the socket and market segment. The i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part, while the i5-5250U uses Intel BGA 1168 and is a mobile processor. This dictates their usability: the i5-3470T can be installed in standard desktop motherboards, whereas the i5-5250U is soldered onto laptop boards.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The i5-3470T runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost, while the i5-5250U runs at 1.60 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The TDP reflects this: 35W for the i5-3470T versus 15W for the i5-5250U.

PCIe support also diverges. The i5-3470T offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-5250U is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The i5-5250U has a rated memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-3470T. The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel HD 2500 on the i5-3470T versus Intel HD 6000 on the i5-5250U.

Release dates and production status vary. The i5-3470T launched on 2012-05-31, while the i5-5250U launched on 2015-02-28 and is marked as end-of-life. The i5-5250U has a launch MSRP of $315, which is noted for reference. The part numbers are SR0RJ for the i5-3470T and SR26C for the i5-5250U.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel architectures and process nodes. The i5-3470T is built on Ivy Bridge using a 22 nm process, while the i5-5250U is built on Broadwell (specifically Broadwell-U) using a 14 nm process. This process shrink allowed Intel to pack 1,900 million transistors into the i5-5250U's 133 mm² die, whereas the i5-3470T's die size is listed as 93.6 mm² without a transistor count.

Both processors share the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory and do not support ECC. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The memory bandwidth figure of 29.9 GB/s for the i5-5250U suggests a more efficient memory controller in the Broadwell design, which likely contributes to its Geekbench advantages. The i5-5250U's integrated Intel HD 6000 graphics are a generational leap over the i5-3470T's Intel HD 2500, offering better media acceleration and GPU compute capabilities despite the lower clock speeds.

The i5-3470T's Ivy Bridge architecture is older but benefits from higher clock speeds and a desktop power envelope. The i5-5250U's Broadwell architecture provides IPC improvements and power efficiency. In the nearest-rival data, the i5-3470T is most comparable to the Intel Xeon W3520 and AMD A8-7650K, with deltas of 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. The i5-5250U sits closest to the Intel Core i5-2500T, matching its score exactly, and trails the Intel Xeon X5492 by 0.5%.