Intel Core i5-3470 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3500U

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-3470 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3500U and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, MATLAB, PassMark, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, 7zip, Handbrake, Blender, Blender, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Rainbow Six Siege
Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Halo Infinite
Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch
Fallout 76
Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Borderlands 3
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Death Stranding
Last Man Standing
Watch Dogs Legion
Fortnite
Valorant
Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Valheim

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3500U or Intel Core i5-3470.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-3470

51%

Ryzen 5 3500U

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 3500U is 1% better than Core i5-3470. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-3470

51%

Ryzen 5 3500U

51%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.8	91.3
Valorant	103.2	103.7
Cyberpunk 2077	57.8	58.1
Apex Legends	97.0	97.5
Call of Duty Warzone	77.4	77.8
Overwatch	83.6	84.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.2	71.6
DOOM Eternal	51.6	51.9
Warzone	80.5	80.9
Assassin's Creed	86.7	87.1
Valheim	85.7	86.1

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-3470

32%

Ryzen 5 3500U

209%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 5 3500U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-3470 since it has less power consumption: 77W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	127	141
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	460	620
Cinbench 20 Single-core	313	360
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1010	1483
Cinbench 23 Single-core	682	876
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2603	3544

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
Single-Core	1953	2014
Multi-Core	4620	7199

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
Single-Core	756	944
Multi-Core	2781	3231

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-3470	AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
Announcement date	April 01, 2012	December 31, 1969
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	LGA1155	FP5
Core name	Ivy Bridge	Picasso
Architecture	x86	Zen+
Generation	3	2
Turbo Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.7 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	2.1 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	1480 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	77 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR3 1333/1600
Max. Memory	32 Gb
Memory Frequency		2400
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache		384KB
L2 cache		2MB
L3 cache	6 MB	4MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		YM3500C4T4MFG n/a

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-3470 is 34% better than Ryzen 5 3500U in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-3470 is better: 8
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3500U is better: 29
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-3470 and AMD Ryzen 5 3500U before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-3470 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3500U specs and review.