Intel Core i5-3475S vs Intel Core i5-4440S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4440S and Intel Core i5-3475S are two low-power desktop quad-cores separated by a single architectural generation, and the recorded data shows a remarkably tight contest. Both are 22 nm Intel parts with four cores, four threads, a 65 W TDP, and identical cache hierarchies. The Haswell-based i5-4440S wins every shared benchmark in the database, but the margins are small enough that the choice between them is more about platform than raw throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-4440S sweeps all six shared Cinebench tests, though never by a wide gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it scores 375 against 371, a 1.1 percent advantage. Single-core in R15 is a dead heat: both chips post 52 points. Cinebench R20 tells a similar story, with the i5-4440S taking multi-core 1566 to 1547 (1.2 percent) and single-core 220 to 218 (0.9 percent).

Cinebench R23, the heaviest sustained render in the shared set, gives the i5-4440S its largest and most consistent edge: 3729 versus 3685 in multi-core (1.2 percent) and 526 versus 520 in single-core (again 1.2 percent). The pattern is clear: Haswell's improved execution throughput delivers roughly one percent of extra performance per clock, and because both chips carry the same core count and thread count, that small per-core gain translates directly across every workload.

The database also holds Geekbench results for the i5-3475S alone: 1731 multi-core and 607 single-core. There is no matching i5-4440S Geekbench entry to compare against, so those figures serve as context only. The i5-3475S's average benchmark score of 1091 is slightly higher than the i5-4440S's 1078, but that average is computed over a different mix of tests, so the head-to-head results remain the fairest comparison. Both chips sit in the 30th percentile versus all CPUs in the database, confirming that these are entry-level performers by modern standards. Notably, the i5-3475S's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4600M (average score 1093, within 0.1 percent) and the Intel Core i7-10510Y (1092, within 0.1 percent), while the i5-4440S lines up against the Intel Core i5-3335S (1083) and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 (1074).

Architecture Differences

The i5-4440S is a Haswell part; the i5-3475S is Ivy Bridge. Both were fabbed by Intel on the same 22 nm process node, and both pack 1,400 million transistors, but the die sizes differ: 177 mm² for the Haswell chip versus 160 mm² for the Ivy Bridge chip. The larger Haswell die reflects the architectural changes Intel made in that generation, which the benchmark data shows yielding roughly one percent more performance per core.

The core and cache configurations are identical on paper: four cores, four threads, 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is off the table for both. Clock speeds favor the older chip on paper: the i5-3475S runs a 2.90 GHz base and a 3.60 GHz boost, compared to 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost on the i5-4440S. Despite that clock disadvantage, the i5-4440S still wins every benchmark, which underlines the per-clock efficiency of the newer architecture.

The platform split is the biggest practical difference. The i5-4440S uses Intel Socket 1150; the i5-3475S uses Intel Socket 1155. The two are physically incompatible, so this is a motherboard-generation decision, not an upgrade path. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory and PCIe Gen 3, though the i5-3475S entry specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only. Integrated graphics differ: the i5-4440S carries Intel HD 4600 while the i5-3475S carries the older Intel HD 4000. Neither part supports ECC memory. Release dates are over a year apart: the i5-3475S landed in mid-2012 and the i5-4440S in mid-2013.

The Verdict

On pure performance, the data gives the i5-4440S a clean sweep: six wins from six shared benchmarks, with margins between 0.9 and 1.2 percent. That is a real but small edge, roughly the difference you would notice in a stopwatch, not in daily use. Neither chip is fast by current standards, as the shared 30th percentile placement shows.

The practical decision comes down to which socket you already own or can source cheaply, since the chips cannot be swapped between platforms. If you are building fresh and both boards are available, the i5-4440S is the pick: it is faster in every recorded test, its Haswell architecture is one generation newer, and its HD 4600 integrated graphics replace the HD 4000 in the older part. If you have an existing Socket 1155 system, the i5-3475S delivers essentially the same performance (within about one percent everywhere) plus a higher 3.60 GHz boost clock on paper, and there is no data-based reason to change platforms to gain it.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster overall?

A: The Intel Core i5-4440S. It wins all six shared Cinebench tests, by 1.1 percent in R15 multi-core (375 vs 371), 1.2 percent in R20 multi-core (1566 vs 1547), and 1.2 percent in R23 multi-core (3729 vs 3685).

Q: How close are they in single-core performance?

A: Very close. Cinebench R15 single-core is a tie at 52 points for both, and the i5-4440S leads by 0.9 percent in R20 (220 vs 218) and 1.2 percent in R23 (526 vs 520).

Q: Do they use the same socket?

A: No. The i5-4440S requires Intel Socket 1150 and the i5-3475S requires Intel Socket 1155. They are not cross-compatible.

Q: How do they compare against other CPUs in the database?

A: Both sit in the 30th percentile versus all recorded CPUs. The i5-3475S's average score of 1091 puts it within 0.1 percent of the Intel Core i7-4600M (1093) and Intel Core i7-10510Y (1092), and 0.2 percent ahead of the AMD Athlon 220GE (1088). The i5-4440S averages 1078, close to the AMD A12-9800 (1081) and Intel Core i5-3335S (1083).

Q: Can either chip be overclocked?

A: No. Both have a locked multiplier.

Q: Which has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4440S, with Intel HD 4600 versus the older Intel HD 4000 in the i5-3475S.

Where Each One Wins

The honest answer from the data is that the i5-4440S wins everywhere performance is measured. Rendering is its territory: every multi-core and single-core Cinebench result favors it. For sustained multi-threaded work like batch rendering in Cinebench R23, the 3729 versus 3685 result holds up over long runs. For lightly threaded or older software measured in R15, the two are indistinguishable at 52 points each.

The i5-3475S wins nothing on the scoreboard, but it does hold platform-specific advantages worth noting: the higher 3.60 GHz boost clock, the smaller 160 mm² die, and Socket 1155 support for anyone maintaining an existing Ivy Bridge-era build. Its Geekbench results (1731 multi-core, 607 single-core) provide additional data points the i5-4440S lacks. In short, choose the i5-4440S for the faster chip in a new or Socket 1150 build, and the i5-3475S only when the Socket 1155 platform is already the constraint.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-4440S | Intel Core i5-3475S |

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

| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 160 mm² |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Intel HD 4000 |

| Release Date | August 2013 | May 2012 |

| Part Number | SR14L | SR0PP |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1078 | 1091 |

Everything else matches: four cores, four threads, 65 W TDP, 22 nm Intel process, 1,400 million transistors, 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, dual-channel DDR3, no ECC, and a locked multiplier on both.