Core i5-3470S vs Phenom II X3 P840
Core i5-3470S
Phenom II X3 P840
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-3470S is positioned at rank 711 and the Phenom II X3 P840 is on rank 45, so the Phenom II X3 P840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3470S
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 P840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3470S | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($37) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3470S | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($37) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-3470S and Phenom II X3 P840
Core i5-3470S
The Core i5-3470S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,374 points. Launch price was $200.
Phenom II X3 P840
The Phenom II X3 P840 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3470S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X3 P840 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Core i5-3470S has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-3470S versus 1.9 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P840 — a 61.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-3470S. The Core i5-3470S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X3 P840 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3470S scores 4,374 against the Phenom II X3 P840's 4,425 — a 1.2% lead for the Phenom II X3 P840.
| Feature | Core i5-3470S | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+33% | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+89% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1.5 MB+500% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 4,374 | 4,425+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3470S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 P840 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3470S | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3470S) / not specified (Phenom II X3 P840). The Core i5-3470S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Phenom II X3 P840 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3470S targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-3470S | Phenom II X3 P840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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