Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Core i7-920 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3470T wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-920. Across five Cinebench workloads, the i5-3470T takes all five wins, with margins ranging from 4.1% to 4.4%. The i7-920 never posts a single victory in the measured comparisons.

For users prioritizing low power consumption and modern platform features, the i5-3470T is the clear choice. It draws only 35W TDP versus 130W for the i7-920, a dramatic difference in thermal and energy demands. The i5-3470T also brings integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3 support, and a newer 22nm process, making it a far more practical option for a compact or energy-efficient desktop build.

The i7-920, despite its age and higher power draw, still holds relevance in one specific area: raw core count. With 4 cores and 8 threads versus the i5-3470T's 2 cores and 4 threads, the i7-920 offers more parallel processing capacity on paper. However, the recorded benchmark results show that this advantage does not translate into superior performance in the tested Cinebench workloads. The i5-3470T's higher clock speeds and architectural efficiency overcome the core deficit.

The data suggests that the i5-3470T is the better all-around processor for modern workloads. It is faster in every measured test, uses a fraction of the power, and supports newer platform features. The i7-920 is a legacy part, marked as end-of-life, and its benchmark scores place it in the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, just one point below the i5-3470T's 23rd percentile. Neither processor is a performance leader by modern standards, but between these two, the i5-3470T is the definitive winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design eras. The i5-3470T uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22nm process node, while the i7-920 uses the older Nehalem architecture on a 45nm process. This process shrink gives the i5-3470T a significant efficiency advantage, reflected in its 35W TDP compared to the i7-920's 130W TDP.

Core configurations differ substantially. The i5-3470T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-920 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-920 also carries a much larger L3 cache at 8MB shared, versus only 3MB shared on the i5-3470T. Both processors feature 64KB L1 and 256KB L2 cache per core.

Clock speeds favor the i5-3470T. It runs at a 2.90GHz base clock and boosts to 3.60GHz. The i7-920 is slower in both respects, with a 2.67GHz base clock and a 2.93GHz boost. The i5-3470T also benefits from a newer memory interface: dual-channel DDR3 versus the i7-920's triple-channel DDR3. While the i7-920 has more memory channels, the i5-3470T's newer architecture may offer better per-channel efficiency.

Platform support differs significantly. The i5-3470T uses Intel Socket 1155 and includes integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics. The i7-920 uses Intel Socket 1366 and has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. PCIe support also differs: the i5-3470T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-920 is limited to Gen 2.

The i7-920 is built on a much larger die, at 263 mm², and contains 731 million transistors. The i5-3470T has a die size of 93.6 mm², though its transistor count is not recorded. The i7-920's production status is listed as end-of-life, while the i5-3470T's status is not specified. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-3470T wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 256 versus 246 for the i7-920, a 4.1% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 1069 versus 1025, a 4.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2547 versus 2442, another 4.3% margin.

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

A: The i5-3470T leads in both recorded single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 150 versus 144, a 4.2% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 359 versus 344, a 4.4% lead. The i5-3470T also has a recorded Geekbench single-core score of 560, though the i7-920 has no comparable Geekbench score in the database.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The i5-3470T has a TDP of 35W, while the i7-920 has a TDP of 130W. This makes the i5-3470T substantially more energy-efficient, a direct result of its smaller 22nm process node versus the i7-920's 45nm node.

Q: Does the i7-920 have any advantage due to its higher core count?

A: The i7-920 has 4 cores and 8 threads, double the i5-3470T's 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has more L3 cache at 8MB versus 3MB. However, in all recorded benchmark tests, the i5-3470T still wins, meaning the core count advantage does not produce a performance win in these workloads.

Q: Which processor has better platform features?

A: The i5-3470T is more modern. It includes integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics, supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and uses a newer socket (1155). The i7-920 has no integrated graphics, supports only PCIe Gen 2, and uses the older Socket 1366. The i7-920 does offer triple-channel memory support versus dual-channel on the i5-3470T.

Q: How do these processors rank against all CPUs?

A: The i5-3470T sits in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 863. The i7-920 sits in the 22nd percentile, with an average score of 840. Both are near their closest rivals: the i5-3470T is within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon X3460, and the i7-920 is within 0.3% of the AMD FX-8800P.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3470T | Intel Core i7-920 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 130W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Nehalem |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 731 million |

| Die Size | 93.6 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | None |

| Production Status | Not recorded | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-05-31 | 2008-11-16 |

| Part Number | SR0RJ | SLBCHSLBEJ |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the i5-3470T. Out of five benchmark comparisons, the i5-3470T wins all five, with no wins recorded for the i7-920.

The largest single margin comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-3470T scores 359 against 344 for the i7-920, a 4.4% advantage. This test highlights the i5-3470T's superior per-core efficiency, driven by its higher boost clock of 3.60GHz versus 2.93GHz and its newer 22nm architecture.

In multi-core workloads, the margins are nearly identical. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the i5-3470T at 256 versus 246, a 4.1% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1069 versus 1025, a 4.3% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 2547 versus 2442, also a 4.3% lead. Interestingly, despite the i7-920 having twice the cores and threads, it cannot overcome the i5-3470T's clock speed and architectural advantages in these tests.

Cinebench R20 single-core follows the same pattern, with the i5-3470T scoring 150 versus 144, a 4.2% lead. Across all five tests, the delta percentages are tightly clustered between 4.1% and 4.4%, indicating a consistent performance gap that does not fluctuate much between single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i5-3470T has an average score of 863 across all its recorded benchmarks, while the i7-920 averages 840. This 23-point difference places the i5-3470T at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs and the i7-920 at the 22nd percentile. The i5-3470T's closest rival is the Intel Xeon X3460, with a delta of -0.4%, while the i7-920's closest rival is the Intel Core i5-5200U, within 0.3%. The data shows a consistent, if modest, performance advantage for the newer i5-3470T in every measured category.