Intel Xeon X5470

The Intel Xeon X5470 is a 4-core, 4-thread server processor from the Core 2 architecture, codenamed Harpertown, built on Intel's 45 nm process. It carries a base clock of 3.33 GHz, a 120 W TDP, and targets the Server/Workstation market segment. With an average benchmark score of 839, it sits at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, placing it firmly in the lower tier of modern processor performance. The data below interprets its benchmark results and platform characteristics for practical decision-making.

How It Compares

vs Intel Xeon X3450: The X5470 and X3450 are effectively dead even, with average scores of 839 and 839 respectively, showing a deltaPct of 0%. Both processors deliver nearly identical aggregate performance, meaning that for mixed workloads, there is no measurable advantage to choosing one over the other based on raw compute. The X3450, however, belongs to a newer architecture generation, which may affect platform-level features, but the benchmark data shows no performance gap.

vs Intel Core i7-3520M: The mobile Core i7-3520M posts an average score of 841, which is 0.2% higher than the X5470. This is a negligible margin, roughly equivalent to a rounding error in most real-world applications. The X5470's desktop/server heritage does not translate into a meaningful lead over this laptop-oriented chip, indicating that the architectural age of the X5470 limits its competitiveness even against mobile parts from a later generation.

vs Intel Core i7-920: The X5470 edges out the Core i7-920 by 0.3%, with scores of 839 versus 836. This is a slight but consistent advantage in average benchmark output. The Core i7-920 is a well-known desktop enthusiast processor from the same era, and the X5470's higher base clock of 3.33 GHz likely contributes to this small lead, though both are clearly outdated by current standards.

vs AMD FX-8800P: The AMD FX-8800P achieves an average score of 843, which is 0.4% higher than the X5470. This gap is similarly minor, but it shows that even a low-power mobile APU from AMD can slightly outpace the X5470 in aggregate compute. The X5470's lack of a boost clock and its older Core 2 microarchitecture place it at a disadvantage against parts designed for efficiency and higher per-clock throughput.

Who Should Consider It

The X5470 is a legacy server processor, end-of-life and intended for Socket 771 platforms. Benchmark results indicate it is suitable only for very basic workloads. For gaming, the single-core score of 344 in Cinebench R23 is far below what modern titles require; the data shows it would struggle with any contemporary game engine that relies on strong per-thread performance. The 22nd percentile ranking confirms this is not a viable gaming CPU.

For content creation, the multi-core scores are equally weak. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 2438 points suggests that video encoding, 3D rendering, or heavy compilation tasks would take excessively long. The X5470's 4 threads without hyper-threading limit its throughput, and the absence of a boost clock means it cannot dynamically raise performance under load. Users with simple office tasks, word processing, spreadsheets, light web browsing, might find it adequate, but even then, the platform's age and memory limitations (DDR2 or DDR3 depending on motherboard) make it a poor choice compared to even entry-level modern CPUs.

The only realistic consideration is for hobbyists or collectors working with vintage hardware, where the X5470's server-grade ECC memory support and dual-die L2 cache design offer historical interest rather than practical performance. For any productive use, the benchmark percentile of 22 indicates that the vast majority of CPUs outperform it.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1023 puts the X5470 at a level comparable to low-end dual-core processors from a decade later. Its single-core R20 score of 144 is particularly telling, this is the kind of result seen in very old mobile or entry-level chips. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the score of 245 further confirms the limited throughput, while the R23 single-core score of 344 is less than half of what a modern mid-range desktop CPU would produce.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the deltas are all within 0.4%, meaning the X5470 is statistically indistinguishable from the Xeon X3450, Core i7-3520M, Core i7-920, and FX-8800P in average performance. However, this parity is not flattering, it means the X5470 is trapped in a performance tier that was already modest when those rivals launched. The average benchmark score of 839, against a backdrop of modern CPUs scoring several thousand points, highlights how far behind this part has fallen. The multi-core results show no scaling advantage from the dual-die L2 cache design (6 MB per die), as the 4-core/4-thread configuration simply cannot compete with chips that offer more cores or simultaneous multi-threading.

FAQ

Q: What is the X5470's production status and release date?

A: The X5470 is end-of-life, with a release date of 2008-09-07.

Q: Does the X5470 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, it supports ECC memory, which is typical for its server/workstation market segment.

Q: What is the X5470's memory architecture?

A: It uses dual-channel memory, and support for DDR2 or DDR3 depends on the motherboard.

Q: How does the X5470 compare to the Intel Core i7-920?

A: The X5470 has an average score of 839, which is 0.3% higher than the Core i7-920's 836.

Q: What is the X5470's PCIe version?

A: It supports PCIe Gen 2.

Q: Is the X5470's multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not officially supported.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is stark and instructive. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 344, while the multi-core score is 2438. This yields a scaling factor of roughly 7.1x from 1 to 4 cores, which is near the theoretical maximum for a 4-core/4-thread part without hyper-threading. That means the X5470 scales well across its limited physical cores, there is no inefficiency in thread scheduling or cache contention, but the absolute numbers are so low that this efficiency is meaningless for demanding tasks.

In Cinebench R20, the single-core score of 144 and multi-core score of 1023 show a similar pattern, with multi-core scaling of about 7.1x. This consistency indicates the architecture is balanced for its era, but the Core 2 microarchitecture's per-clock performance is severely outdated. For real workloads, this means that a single-threaded application like older spreadsheet macros or legacy office software will run at a pace comparable to a low-end modern laptop processor, while multi-threaded tasks like video transcoding will complete, but only after long waits. The lack of a boost clock (base clock is fixed at 3.33 GHz) means the processor cannot adapt to lighter loads by increasing frequency, so it always operates at peak power draw relative to its performance.

Platform and Compatibility

The X5470 fits into the Intel Socket 771, a platform designed for dual-socket servers and high-end workstations. It uses the Core 2 architecture with the Harpertown codename, and the die is composed of two 107 mm² dies with a total of 820 million transistors. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core, and the L2 cache is 6 MB per die, giving a total of 12 MB across the two dies, though this is not shared across all cores in a uniform manner.

Memory support is dual-channel, with DDR2 or DDR3 depending on the motherboard, this flexibility is unusual but highlights the platform's age, as most modern CPUs are locked to a single memory type. ECC memory is supported, which is a plus for data integrity in server roles, but the lack of L3 cache (null in the data) means the memory hierarchy relies entirely on the L2 caches, which can limit performance in cache-heavy workloads.

The processor uses PCIe Gen 2, which is two generations behind current standards, and this limits the bandwidth available for modern GPUs or NVMe drives. The platform's upgrade path is essentially nonexistent, as an end-of-life Socket 771 part, there is no newer CPU that can be dropped into the same motherboard without a full platform change. The launch MSRP was $1386, which reflects its original server positioning, but that price has no bearing on current market value. For anyone building a new system, the X5470's platform compatibility is a dead end, and the benchmark data provides no reason to pursue it outside of vintage computing.