Intel Core i5-3470T vs Intel Xeon X5492 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly clear picture: the Intel Core i5-3470T wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Xeon X5492, despite the Xeon having twice the core count. The i5-3470T leads by margins between 2.7% and 2.9% across all five Cinebench tests, which is a narrow but consistent advantage. This suggests that architectural efficiency and clock behavior matter more than raw core count in these specific workloads. The Xeon X5492, with its 4 cores and 4 threads, cannot translate its hardware parallelism into a victory, likely because the i5-3470T's newer Ivy Bridge architecture and higher boost clock compensate effectively. For any user choosing between these two, the data points decisively toward the i5-3470T, which also offers the practical benefits of lower power draw and integrated graphics. The Xeon X5492, being an end-of-life server part, holds appeal only for legacy socket 771 systems where its higher base clock might be relevant in single-threaded scenarios—though even there, the i5-3470T wins the single-core tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different eras of Intel design. The Core i5-3470T is built on the 22 nm Ivy Bridge process, featuring 2 cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, with a 2.90 GHz base clock and a 3.60 GHz boost clock. Its cache layout includes 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The Xeon X5492, by contrast, uses the older 45 nm Core 2 architecture (codename Harpertown), packing 4 physical cores but no Hyper-Threading, resulting in 4 threads total. It runs at a fixed 3.40 GHz with no boost capability. The Xeon's cache structure is notably different: 64 KB L1 per core, but 6 MB L2 per die—a design where each die contains two cores sharing the L2 cache. The Xeon also has no L3 cache at all, while the i5-3470T relies on its shared 3 MB L3.

Process technology is a major differentiator: the 22 nm node gives the i5-3470T a significant efficiency edge, reflected in its 35 W TDP versus the Xeon's 150 W TDP. The Xeon's die is listed as 2x 107 mm² (two dies on the package) with 820 million transistors, while the i5-3470T uses a single 93.6 mm² die. Memory support also diverges: the i5-3470T supports only DDR3 in dual-channel mode with no ECC, while the Xeon X5492 supports both DDR2 and DDR3, also dual-channel, but with ECC memory enabled. The i5-3470T includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, a feature the Xeon lacks entirely, marking it as a server/workstation part. PCIe support also differs: the i5-3470T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon provides only Gen 2. The release dates are separated by nearly four years, with the Xeon arriving in September 2008 and the i5-3470T in May 2012, which largely explains the architectural gap.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across the five Cinebench tests, the i5-3470T wins all of them, but the margins tell a nuanced story about where each processor's strengths lie. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3470T scores 256 against the Xeon's 249, a 2.8% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows a 2.9% advantage (1069 vs 1039), and R23 multi-core again shows 2.9% (2547 vs 2475). These multi-core results are particularly revealing: the Xeon's 4 cores should theoretically outperform the i5's 2 cores, but the i5's Hyper-Threading and newer architecture close the gap entirely, then push ahead.

Single-core tests follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i5-3470T scores 150 against 146, a 2.7% lead. In R23 single-core, it scores 359 versus 349, again 2.9% ahead. The Xeon's higher 3.40 GHz base clock compared to the i5's 2.90 GHz base does not translate into single-thread dominance, meaning the i5's 3.60 GHz boost clock and Ivy Bridge IPC advantage are decisive. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the i5-3470T averages 863 versus the Xeon's 852, a gap of roughly 1.3%. Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite the architectural differences. The nearest rival data shows the i5-3470T trading blows with CPUs like the Intel Xeon W3520 (862, +0.1% delta) and AMD A8-7650K (860, +0.3%), while the Xeon X5492 is slightly behind the Intel Core i5-5250U (856, -0.4%) and Intel Core i5-2500T (856, -0.5%).

FAQ

Q: Why does the 2-core i5-3470T beat the 4-core Xeon X5492 in multi-core tests?

A: The i5-3470T's Hyper-Threading provides 4 threads from 2 cores, matching the Xeon's 4 threads from 4 cores. Combined with the newer Ivy Bridge architecture and a significantly smaller 22 nm process node, the i5's per-thread efficiency is higher, yielding wins of 2.8-2.9% across all multi-core Cinebench tests.

Q: Does the Xeon X5492 have any benchmark advantage at all?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i5-3470T winning all 5 benchmarks, with the Xeon trailing by 2.7-2.9% in every test. The Xeon's 3.40 GHz base clock is higher than the i5's 2.90 GHz base, but the i5's 3.60 GHz boost clock and architectural improvements negate that advantage.

Q: How do these CPUs compare in single-core performance?

A: The i5-3470T leads in both single-core tests: 150 vs 146 in Cinebench R20 (2.7% lead) and 359 vs 349 in Cinebench R23 (2.9% lead). This is notable because the Xeon has a higher base clock, but the i5's boost clock and IPC advantage win out.

Q: What are the power consumption implications?

A: The i5-3470T has a TDP of 35 W, while the Xeon X5492 has a TDP of 150 W. This is a massive difference, making the i5 far more efficient for the same or better performance. The Xeon's much higher power draw is a legacy of its 45 nm process versus the i5's 22 nm node.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon X5492 supports ECC memory, while the i5-3470T does not. This makes the Xeon more suitable for error-correcting workloads, despite its performance deficit. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Xeon offers DDR2 and DDR3 while the i5 only supports DDR3.

Q: Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: Only the i5-3470T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 2500). The Xeon X5492 has none, which is expected for a server/workstation part. This gives the i5 an advantage in systems without a discrete GPU.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the i5-3470T wins every measurable performance category. Its 2.8-2.9% leads in multi-core workloads make it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, or any heavily threaded application that scales across threads. The single-core results, with leads of 2.7-2.9%, also favor the i5 for everyday desktop tasks, legacy software, and games that rely on single-thread performance. The i5's 35 W TDP versus the Xeon's 150 W makes it dramatically more suitable for compact builds, low-noise systems, or always-on machines where heat and power draw are concerns. The integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics further extend its versatility, allowing basic display output without a dedicated GPU.

The Xeon X5492, despite losing all benchmarks, retains niche value. Its ECC memory support is the standout feature, making it relevant for budget-conscious server or workstation builds where data integrity is critical—though the benchmark scores suggest it will not deliver better compute performance. The Xeon's dual-die design with 2x 107 mm² and 820 million transistors is historically interesting but offers no practical benefit in these tests. Its socket 771 platform is legacy and end-of-life, limiting upgrade paths. For someone maintaining an older server motherboard, the Xeon's 3.40 GHz fixed clock might be preferable for predictable performance without boost variability, but the data shows that predictability comes at a cost of lower absolute scores. The i5-3470T is the winner for virtually all use cases except those requiring ECC memory, where the Xeon's feature set is unmatched.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every major specification. The i5-3470T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon X5492 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: the i5 runs at 2.90 GHz with a 3.60 GHz boost, whereas the Xeon runs at 3.40 GHz with no boost capability. TDP is starkly different: 35 W for the i5 versus 150 W for the Xeon. Sockets are incompatible: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 771. The i5 is built on 22 nm Ivy Bridge with a 93.6 mm² die, while the Xeon uses 45 nm Core 2 Harpertown with 2x 107 mm² dies and 820 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ significantly: the i5 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3, while the Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core, 6 MB L2 per die, and no L3. Memory support favors the Xeon with both DDR2 and DDR3 plus ECC, while the i5 supports only DDR3 without ECC; both are dual-channel. PCIe generations differ: the i5 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), the Xeon offers Gen 2. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5 as Intel HD 2500. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1493, while the i5 had no listed launch MSRP. Release dates are separated by years: the Xeon launched September 2008, the i5 in May 2012. The Xeon is marked end-of-life, while the i5's production status is not specified.