i5-3470 vs i7-5960X

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-5960X
2014
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
8.03
+172%
Core i5-3470
2012
4 cores / 4 threads, 77 Watt
2.95

Core i7-5960X outperforms Core i5-3470 by a whopping 172% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking9311646
Place by popularitynot in top-10015
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.750.49
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i5 (Desktop)
Power efficiency5.433.63
Architecture codenameHaswell-E (2014)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date1 September 2014 (10 years ago)1 June 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$999$184

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-5960X has 53% better value for money than i5-3470.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores8 (Octa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads164
Base clock speed3 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.5 GHz3.6 GHz
Bus rate0 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache20 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size356 mm2132.8 mm2
Maximum core temperature67 °C67 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data67 °C
Number of transistors2,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt77 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDIno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection++
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth68 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 2500
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes40no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-5960X 8.03
+172%
i5-3470 2.95

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-5960X 12748
+173%
i5-3470 4678

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-5960X 1322
+113%
i5-3470 621

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-5960X 7496
+308%
i5-3470 1838

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-5960X 5193
+3.7%
i5-3470 5006

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-5960X 33929
+97.4%
i5-3470 17192

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-5960X 9924
+60.6%
i5-3470 6179

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-5960X 15
+170%
i5-3470 6

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i7-5960X 1.53
+1.3%
i5-3470 1.51

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-5960X 14570
+157%
i5-3470 5660

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.03 2.95
Recency 1 September 2014 1 June 2012
Physical cores 8 4
Threads 16 4
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 77 Watt

i7-5960X has a 172.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, and 100% more physical cores and 300% more threads.

i5-3470, on the other hand, has 81.8% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-5960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-3470 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5960X and Core i5-3470, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-5960X
Core i7-5960X
Intel Core i5-3470
Core i5-3470

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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