CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-7320 and Intel Core i5-3450 are two desktop processors from different eras, with the i3-7320 being a Kaby Lake part released in early 2017 and the i5-3450 an Ivy Bridge part from mid-2012. Despite the i5-3450 having double the physical cores, benchmark results show the i3-7320 winning all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 5.4% to 5.7%. The i3-7320 achieves this through a significantly higher base clock and a more modern architecture, making it the stronger performer across both single-core and multi-core workloads in the Cinebench suite.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the Intel Core i3-7320 is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with a consistent advantage of roughly 5.5% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. For users prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench rendering tests, the i3-7320 is the clear choice, despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads compared to the i5-3450's 4 cores and 4 threads.

The Intel Core i5-3450, while end-of-life and older, remains competitive in terms of average benchmark score. Its average score of 1166 is only 0.6% lower than the i3-7320's 1173, placing both processors at the 33rd percentile of all CPUs. This suggests that for general-purpose computing, the two are nearly equivalent in overall capability, with the i5-3450's extra cores offsetting its architectural disadvantages in some unseen workloads.

However, for users who specifically rely on Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 scores as a proxy for rendering or heavily threaded performance, the i3-7320 is the superior pick. Its higher clock speed of 4.10 GHz (with no boost clock) versus the i5-3450's 3.10 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost is the key differentiator. The i5-3450's advantage in core count (4 vs 2) does not translate into a win in any of the six recorded tests, indicating that the i3-7320's per-core efficiency is substantial.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on entirely different platforms. The Intel Core i3-7320 is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node. It features 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with a fixed base clock of 4.10 GHz and no turbo boost capability. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 630, and the processor fits the Intel Socket 1151.

In contrast, the Intel Core i5-3450 comes from the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a larger 22 nm process node. It has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The cache layout is similar per core (64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2), but the shared L3 cache is larger at 6 MB. It uses DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, yielding a lower memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 2500, and it uses the older Intel Socket 1155.

The process node difference is notable, with the i3-7320's 14 nm node being significantly more advanced than the i5-3450's 22 nm node. The i5-3450's die size is 160 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors, though comparable data for the i3-7320 is not available. Both processors lack an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. Both offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i3-7320 is still listed as an active production part, while the i5-3450 is end-of-life. The i5-3450 had a launch MSRP of $174.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i3-7320 scores 408 against the i5-3450's 387, a 5.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 57 versus 54, a 5.6% advantage. These margins are consistent across all newer Cinebench versions.

The Cinebench R20 multicore results show the i3-7320 at 1703 and the i5-3450 at 1613, a 5.6% delta. In R20 single-core, the scores are 240 and 227 respectively, with the i3-7320 leading by 5.7%. The largest absolute difference appears in the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the i3-7320 scores 4057 and the i5-3450 scores 3842, a 215-point gap representing a 5.6% advantage.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test completes the sweep, with the i3-7320 scoring 572 against the i5-3450's 542, a 5.5% lead. Across all six head-to-head benchmarks, the i3-7320 wins with a narrow but consistent margin of approximately 5.5%. The data shows no test where the i5-3450's four physical cores provide an advantage over the i3-7320's two cores with hyper-threading.

Interestingly, the i5-3450 has additional Geekbench scores recorded (multicore: 1985, singlecore: 681) that are not available for the i3-7320, so a direct comparison on that benchmark suite cannot be made from the available data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7320 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the extra core count of the i5-3450 help it win any Cinebench tests?

A: No. The i3-7320 wins all six recorded Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 5.4% to 5.7% in its favor.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The i3-7320 has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and no boost clock, while the i5-3450 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The i3-7320 supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the i5-3450 supports DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, neither the i3-7320 nor the i5-3450 has an unlocked multiplier.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i3-7320 is listed as Active, while the i5-3450 is End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-7320 wins in every benchmark category for which there is direct comparison data. It leads in all six Cinebench tests, including both single-core and multi-core variants of R15, R20, and R23. The consistency of the 5.5% margin suggests that the i3-7320's architectural efficiency and higher clock speed are decisive advantages. This makes it the better choice for users running Cinebench-specific workloads, such as 3D rendering tasks that are sensitive to per-core performance.

The Intel Core i5-3450 does not win any of the recorded head-to-head tests, but its profile suggests it still has a place. Its average benchmark score of 1166 is nearly identical to the i3-7320's 1173, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3550, which scores 1178 and is 0.4% ahead of the i3-7320. This indicates that the i5-3450 is not far behind in overall system performance, and its larger 6 MB L3 cache could benefit workloads that are cache-sensitive but not represented in the Cinebench suite.

For users with existing Intel Socket 1155 motherboards and DDR3 memory, the i5-3450 offers a path to four physical cores without a platform change. For new builds, the i3-7320's Socket 1151 and DDR4 support provide a more modern foundation. The i5-3450's end-of-life status may also be a consideration for long-term availability, though it does have a recorded launch MSRP of $174 to reference for historical context.