Core i5-3470S vs Core i3-6320

The Core i5-3470S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6320 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3470S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-3470S versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-6320 — a 8% clock advantage for the Core i3-6320 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-3470S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-6320 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3470S scores 4,374 against the Core i3-6320's 4,421 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-6320. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3470S vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-6320.

The Core i5-3470S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-6320 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-3470S versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6320 — the Core i3-6320 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6320 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3470S) vs Yes (Core i3-6320). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2500 (Core i5-3470S) and Intel HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6320) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3470S targets Desktop.

The Core i5-3470S launched at $184 MSRP, while the Core i3-6320 debuted at $160. At current prices ($37 vs $35), the Core i3-6320 is $2 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-3470S delivers 118.2 pts/$ vs 126.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-6320 — making the Core i3-6320 the 6.6% better value option.