Intel Core i3-3220 vs Core i5-3470 for budget pc?

[beanhed7]

Hello,

I'm upgrading my cpu and I am trying to decide between intel core i3-3220 and i5-3470. On paper, they seem sort of similiar, so I have trouble interpreting the specs to real world. As I understand, they both have 4 cores (with the former hyperthreaded) and both have a similar clock speed. To me the i5 just looks like a physical 4-core i3. Is there a notable advantage to it?

One thing I like about the i3 is it seems to be very cool and power efficient, and not having much to spend, this relieves me of worrying about other things, like a cooler or power supply i think. But does the i5 run cooler because it's not hyperthreaded? Also, does it provide better future proofing or are these cpus about the same in that area?

Thanks.

 

[clutchc]

Actually, the i3 only has 2 cores. They are hyper-threaded allowing each core to work on 2 threads at the same time. So it becomes a 2C/4T CPU. The hyper-threaded threads are only about 10% as efficient as true cores would be. Whereas the i5 is a true quad core having 4C/4T capability. Hence, the i5 is the better choice.

 

[beanhed7]

Actually, the i3 only has 2 cores. They are hyper-threaded allowing each core to work on 2 threads at the same time. So it becomes a 2C/4T CPU. The hyper-threaded threads are only about 10% as efficient as true cores would be. Whereas the i5 is a true quad core having 4C/4T capability. Hence, the i5 is the better choice.

Wow thanks.

 

[Viking2121]

Yeah the i5 will be the best performer, Though the i3 3220 is not to bad. My brother had the i3 3220T (lower clocked i3 3220) and it played BF1 and a few other games pretty well with a GTX 760, Though if you can get the i5, its going to be the best out of the 2 CPU's.

 

[beanhed7]

Yeah the i5 will be the best performer, Though the i3 3220 is not to bad. My brother had the i3 3220T (lower clocked i3 3220) and it played BF1 and a few other games pretty well with a GTX 760, Though if you can get the i5, its going to be the best out of the 2 CPU's.

Cool. I've been saving and I think I'm going with the i5. Thanks guys.