Intel Core i7-4790 vs Intel Core i5-3470

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-4790 vs Intel Core i5-3470 and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, programming, rendering, machine learning. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like SuperPi, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, Prime95, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, 3DMark, Blender, WPrime, Blender, RealBench, Furmark, PassMark, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-3470 or Intel Core i7-4790.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-4790

52%

Core i5-3470

51%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-4790 is 1% better than Core i5-3470. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-4790

52%

Core i5-3470

51%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low 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: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.1	90.8
Valorant	104.7	103.2
Cyberpunk 2077	58.6	57.8
Apex Legends	98.4	97.0
Call of Duty Warzone	78.5	77.4
Overwatch	84.8	83.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.2	71.2
DOOM Eternal	52.3	51.6
Warzone	81.6	80.5
Assassin's Creed	87.9	86.7
Valheim	86.9	85.7

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So 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 i7-4790

31%

Core i5-3470

32%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-3470 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790 since it has less power consumption: 84W vs. 77W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

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

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

	Intel Core i7-4790	Intel Core i5-3470
Cinbench 15 Single-core	145	127
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	728	460
Cinbench 20 Single-core	384	313
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1819	1010
Cinbench 23 Single-core	974	682
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	4564	2603

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

	Intel Core i7-4790	Intel Core i5-3470
Single-Core	2247	1953
Multi-Core	7177	4620

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

	Intel Core i7-4790	Intel Core i5-3470
Single-Core	785	756
Multi-Core	4018	2781

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-4790	Intel Core i5-3470
Announcement date	April 01, 2014	April 01, 2012
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1150	LGA1155
Core name	Haswell	Ivy Bridge
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	4	3
Turbo Frequency	4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	8	4
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	1480 millions	1480 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	84 W	77 W
Memory type	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V	DDR3 1333/1600
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	6 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-4790 is 11% better than Core i5-3470 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 i7-4790 is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-3470 is better: 1
However, it should be realized that all the figures in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i7-4790 and Intel Core i5-3470 before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i7-4790 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-3470 specs and review.