Intel Core i5-3470

Based on 6 reportsCPUIntelMid-rangeMost recent submission: Oct 24, 2026

The Intel Core i5-3470 runs at an average of 66.2°C under load based on 6 community submissions. The hottest 10% of submissions report temperatures above 70°C, while the coolest 10% stay below 61°C. Idle temperatures average 48°C.

Runs normal
Average load temp is in line with the typical mid-range baseline of 70°C.

Is your Intel Core i5-3470 running hot?

Enter a temperature to see how it compares with other owners' results.

Specifications

Manufacturer
Intel

Idle Temperature

48.0°C
Cool
Coolest 10%
40.0°C
Typical
46.0°C
Hottest 10%
58.0°C

Load Temperature

66.2°C
Warm
Coolest 10%
61.0°C
Typical
66.0°C
Hottest 10%
70.0°C

Load temperature distribution

60–70°C
5
70–80°C
1

Load Temperature Distribution

20°C60°C100°C
Coolest 10%: 61°CTypical: 66°CHottest 10%: 70°C

Is your temperature normal?

  • Below 61°C — cooler than 90% of submissions for this hardware. Excellent cooling.
  • Between 61°C and 70°C — within the typical range for this hardware.
  • Above 70°C — hotter than 90% of submissions. Worth investigating: thermal paste, cooler mount, dust, or case airflow.
  • Above 90°C — at or beyond the safe operating ceiling for this tier. Reduce load, check cooling, and consider professional inspection.

Submissions over time

2026-052026-10

Load temperature by ambient

Cool room (≤20°C)
61.0°C1 submission
Warm room (≥26°C)
68.5°C2 submissions

Coolest Intel Core i5-3470 PCs

This leaderboard opens when 5 PCs have a ranked result. 1 PC has one so far. Test yours

Coldest run

61.0°C
Aftermarket Air Cooler cooling·Jul 30, 2026

Hottest run

70.0°C
Aftermarket Air Cooler cooling·Oct 24, 2026

Cooling Comparison

Aftermarket Air Cooler
65.7°C3 reports
Stock Cooler
66.7°C3 reports

What's normal for this tier?

Mid-range CPUs are well within thermal headroom on stock or basic aftermarket coolers, usually 60–80°C under load. Anything consistently above 85°C warrants a cooling check.

Ambient room temperature affects readings. Average reported ambient: 28.3°C.

Recent Submissions

DateCoolingIdleLoad
Oct 24, 2026Aftermarket Air Cooler46.0°C70.0°C
Oct 24, 2026Aftermarket Air Cooler49.0°C66.0°C
Oct 15, 2026Stock Cooler40.0°C63.0°C
Jul 30, 2026Aftermarket Air Cooler40.0°C61.0°C
May 17, 2026Stock Cooler55.0°C69.0°C

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal temperature for the Intel Core i5-3470?

Based on 6 community submissions, the Intel Core i5-3470 runs at an average idle temperature of 48°C and an average load temperature of 66.2°C. Anything between 61°C and 70°C under load is within the typical range for this hardware.

Is 66.2°C too hot for the Intel Core i5-3470?

The safe operating ceiling for mid-range CPUs like the Intel Core i5-3470 is around 90°C under sustained load. 66.2°C is within the safe operating range. If you're exceeding 90°C, check thermal paste, cooler mounting, dust buildup, and case airflow.

What is the best cooler for the Intel Core i5-3470?

For a 70W mid-range CPU like the Intel Core i5-3470, a quality 240mm AIO or a high-end dual-tower air cooler (Noctua NH-D15, Thermalright Phantom Spirit) is generally sufficient to keep load temperatures well within safe limits. Higher TDP variants (overclocked or PBO-enabled) benefit from 360mm AIO cooling.

Recommended Products

These are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, we may earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. /disclosure

Thermal Paste

Noctua NT-H2 10g, High-Performance Thermal Paste and 10 Cleaning Wipes

Top-Tier Performance, Easy to Apply and Clean, Excellent Long-Term Stability, Extra-Large Syringe for 9-60 Applications

“Thermal paste is the most cost effective solution for tacking an overheating CPU!”

Check price on Amazon
CPU Cooler

Noctua NH-D15, Quiet High-Performance Dual Tower CPU Cooler

168mm Height, Enthusiast-Grade Low-Noise Cooling, 6 Heatpipes, For Intel & AMD, Dual 140mm Fans, Rich Accessory Kit

“Upgrading from stock cooling can significantly help reduce temperatures!”

Check price on Amazon
Other

ASUS The SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX™ 5070 OC Edition Graphics Card

The ASUS Prime RTX 5070 OC features a 2.5 slot design with a carefully arranged layout for the shroud, heatsink and heat pipes to let the three Axial-tech fans leverage chassis side-panel ventilation and deliver optimal thermal performance.

“Older GPU can cause lower framerates on certain games despite optimal cooling - maybe it's time for an upgrade!”

Check price on Amazon

Have a Intel Core i5-3470?

Contribute your temperature data to help others make informed decisions.

Run Temperature Test →