AMD Athlon 220GE vs Intel Core i5-3450S Comparison

The benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between the AMD Athlon 220GE and the Intel Core i5-3450S. Despite being separated by nearly seven years of release dates and fundamentally different architectures, their recorded performance scores are nearly identical. The AMD part edges out a narrow victory in every single head-to-head test, but the margins are so slim that they fall well within the range of normal run-to-run variance. The database shows the Athlon 220GE winning all six recorded benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 0.4% to 0.5%, except for one tie. This is a statistical dead heat.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking aspect of this comparison is the consistency of the results. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Athlon 220GE scored 379 against the Intel Core i5-3450S's 377, a lead of just 0.5%. The single-core test for R15 ended in a dead tie at 53 points for both processors.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Athlon 220GE posted a multi-core score of 1580, while the i5-3450S managed 1573, a 0.4% difference. In single-core R20, the AMD part scored 223 against Intel's 222, a 0.5% edge. The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: the Athlon 220GE scored 3764 in multi-core versus 3747 for the i5-3450S, a 0.5% advantage, and 531 versus 529 in single-core, a 0.4% lead.

What does this mean in practical terms? A 0.5% performance delta is effectively imperceptible in real-world workloads. The data indicates that neither processor holds a meaningful performance advantage over the other in these CPU-bound rendering tests. The Athlon 220GE wins on paper, but the Intel chip matches it within a rounding error. For context, the Athlon 220GE's average benchmark score sits at 1088, placing it in the 30th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3350P with an identical average score of 1088 and a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-3450S averages 1099, placing it in the 31st percentile, with its closest match being the Intel Pentium 6805 at 1099 and 0% delta. These two processors are surrounded by the same performance class of silicon.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different eras and different design philosophies. The AMD Athlon 220GE is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge variant, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors onto a 209.8 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3450S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die.

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD part has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, utilizing simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. This is a classic trade-off: the Athlon relies on extra threads to feed its pipeline, while the i5-3450S uses raw physical core count. The benchmark parity suggests these approaches largely cancel each other out in the tested workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Athlon 220GE features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-3450S has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite the Intel chip's larger L3 pool, the AMD chip's newer architecture compensates.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD Athlon 220GE uses DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a rated memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-3450S uses DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. Platform support also differs: the AMD chip uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel chip uses the Intel Socket 1155. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 for both, but the AMD part offers 8 lanes from the CPU while the Intel part offers 16.

Integrated graphics are present on both, but they are not equal. The Athlon 220GE carries a Radeon Vega 3, while the i5-3450S has Intel HD 2500. The database records no graphics benchmarks, so a direct comparison of iGPU performance is not possible from the recorded data, but the architectural gap suggests the Vega 3 is the more modern solution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Athlon 220GE wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests, but by margins of only 0.4% to 0.5%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scored 3764 against 3747 for the Intel Core i5-3450S.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-3450S better in single-core performance?

A: No. The Intel chip loses every single-core Cinebench test, though by equally tiny margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scored 529 against the AMD chip's 531.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Athlon 220GE has an average benchmark score of 1088, identical to the Intel Core i5-3350P. The i5-3450S averages 1099, matching the Intel Pentium 6805.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The AMD Athlon 220GE has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD Athlon 220GE supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-3450S supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Athlon 220GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-3450S has a 65 W TDP. The AMD chip draws less power on paper.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear differences in nearly every category except for a few shared traits. The AMD Athlon 220GE has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3450S has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: the AMD chip runs at 3.40 GHz with no boost clock recorded, while the Intel chip has a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 3.50 GHz boost clock. TDP is 35 W for AMD versus 65 W for Intel.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket 1155. The architecture is Zen (Raven Ridge) versus Ivy Bridge. Process nodes are 14 nm (GlobalFoundries) versus 22 nm (Intel). Transistor counts are 4,950 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 209.8 mm² versus 160 mm².

Cache layouts differ across all three levels. The AMD chip has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD and DDR3 for Intel. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the Intel chip has none recorded. PCIe lanes differ: 8 for AMD versus 16 for Intel, both Gen 3. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3 versus Intel HD 2500. Release dates are December 2018 for AMD and April 2012 for Intel. The AMD part lists a launch MSRP of $65 and remains in active production; the Intel part has no recorded MSRP or production status. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the AMD Athlon 220GE is the nominal winner of every benchmark test, but the margins are so small that the results should be treated as a tie. The Athlon 220GE's wins range from 0.4% to 0.5%, which is negligible in real-world use. The Intel Core i5-3450S matches it in overall performance tier, sitting one percentile higher in the database at 31 versus 30.

The choice between these two should come down to platform and ecosystem factors, not raw performance. The Athlon 220GE offers a modern DDR4 platform, a lower 35 W TDP, and active production status. The i5-3450S offers four physical cores, a larger 6 MB L3 cache, and 16 PCIe lanes. The AMD chip is the more sensible pick for a new build on the AM4 platform. The Intel chip is a legacy part, suited only to someone already invested in Socket 1155 hardware.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon 220GE wins in efficiency and platform longevity. Its 35 W TDP is nearly half of the Intel chip's 65 W TDP, making it the better choice for low-power or compact systems. It also uses DDR4 memory, which remains a current standard, and it is still in active production. Its Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics are a more modern iGPU solution than the Intel HD 2500, even though no direct benchmark comparison exists in the database to quantify the gap.

The Intel Core i5-3450S wins on raw core count and cache capacity. Its 4 physical cores provide a foundation for workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count, and its 6 MB of shared L3 cache is 50% larger than the AMD chip's 4 MB. The 16 PCIe lanes also give it more headroom for expansion cards, assuming the rest of the platform supports them.

In pure benchmark terms, neither processor has a decisive victory. The database records the Athlon 220GE with 6 wins and the i5-3450S with 0, but the largest margin is 0.5%. Users should buy based on platform needs. If the requirement is a current, low-power AM4 build with DDR4, the Athlon 220GE is the clear direction. If the requirement is a drop-in upgrade for an existing Socket 1155 system with DDR3, the i5-3450S remains a viable option that matches the newer chip's performance.