Intel Core i5-2450P vs Intel Core i5-3450S Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data splits these two desktop processors cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core i5-2450P wins 2 of the 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-3450S wins 6. However, the margin of victory matters more than the raw count. The i5-3450S takes every Cinebench test, with deltas ranging from -2.9% to -3.8% in favor of the i5-3450S. The i5-2450P counters with a 4.9% lead in Geekbench multicore and a 1.5% lead in Geekbench singlecore.

The overall average benchmark score favors the i5-3450S at 1099 versus 1086 for the i5-2450P, a gap of roughly 1.2%. The i5-3450S also sits at the 31st percentile of all CPUs in the database, one point above the i5-2450P at the 30th percentile. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the i5-3450S is the clear pick. For users whose applications resemble the Geekbench workload mix, the i5-2450P holds a measurable edge.

The i5-3450S achieves this with a 65 W TDP compared to the i5-2450P's 95 W TDP, while both share the same 3.50 GHz boost clock. The i5-2450P has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, yet it still loses the Cinebench suite. The architectural differences, Sandy Bridge versus Ivy Bridge, explain this outcome. Buyers should choose based on their dominant workload: Cinebench-style multithreaded rendering points to the i5-3450S, while Geekbench-style general computing points to the i5-2450P.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3450S dominates the Cinebench family of tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 377 against 366, a 2.9% advantage. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, it scores 53 against 51, a 3.8% advantage. The pattern repeats across Cinebench R20 and R23, with the i5-3450S leading by 3.1% to 3.2% in both singlecore and multicore runs. This consistency suggests a fundamental efficiency advantage in the rendering pipeline, not a workload-specific quirk.

The i5-2450P wins the Geekbench tests. Its multicore score of 1796 beats the i5-3450S's 1712, a 4.9% margin that is the largest of any head-to-head comparison. Its singlecore score of 590 beats 581, a 1.5% margin. The Geekbench suite appears to reward the i5-2450P's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz, which may allow sustained performance in shorter, burst-style workloads before boost behavior becomes relevant.

The i5-3450S's wins are more numerous and more consistent across the Cinebench suite. The i5-2450P's wins are fewer but include the single largest delta in either direction. Users running sustained rendering tasks should expect the i5-3450S to finish ahead. Users running mixed general-purpose tasks that resemble Geekbench should expect the i5-2450P to respond faster.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The i5-2450P uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process node, while the i5-3450S uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm node. This node shrink explains the i5-3450S's lower 65 W TDP despite comparable performance. The i5-3450S packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die, whereas the i5-2450P has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The Ivy Bridge design crams more transistors into less space, which is the physical basis for its efficiency advantage.

Both processors offer 4 cores and 4 threads. Cache layouts match identically: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support is also identical, with DDR3 on a dual-channel bus. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, CPU only. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

A notable difference appears in integrated graphics. The i5-3450S includes Intel HD 2500 graphics, while the i5-2450P has no integrated graphics listed in the database. This makes the i5-3450S a more self-contained option for systems without a discrete GPU. The i5-2450P requires a separate graphics card. The i5-3450S also carries an Ivy Bridge generation label, while the i5-2450P carries the Sandy Bridge generation label, though both fit the same Intel Socket 1155.

The i5-2450P's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.80 GHz suggests a more aggressive default operating point. The i5-3450S compensates with a more efficient architecture, reaching the same 3.50 GHz boost clock while consuming less power on paper. The i5-2450P's part number is SR0G1, the i5-3450S's is SR0P2. The i5-3450S released on 2012-04-28, roughly three months after the i5-2450P's 2012-01-29 release date.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450S has an average benchmark score of 1099, while the Intel Core i5-2450P sits at 1086. The i5-3450S also holds a higher percentile rank at 31 versus 30.

Q: Does the i5-2450P win any benchmark comparisons?

A: Yes. The i5-2450P wins Geekbench multicore with 1796 against 1712, a 4.9% lead, and Geekbench singlecore with 590 against 581, a 1.5% lead.

Q: How large is the i5-3450S's advantage in Cinebench R23?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-3450S scores 3747 against 3632, a 3.1% lead. In singlecore, it scores 529 against 512, also a 3.2% lead.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes. Both support DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Does the i5-2450P have integrated graphics?

A: No integrated graphics are listed for the i5-2450P. The i5-3450S includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics.

Q: What are the power ratings for each chip?

A: The i5-2450P has a TDP of 95 W, while the i5-3450S has a TDP of 65 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite paints a consistent picture of i5-3450S superiority. Starting with Cinebench R15, the i5-3450S scores 377 in multicore against the i5-2450P's 366, a 2.9% margin. Singlecore narrows the gap slightly but still favors the i5-3450S: 53 versus 51, a 3.8% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-3450S leads multicore 1573 to 1525, a 3.1% margin, and singlecore 222 to 215, a 3.2% margin. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: 3747 to 3632 in multicore (3.1%) and 529 to 512 in singlecore (3.2%). Across all six Cinebench tests, the i5-3450S wins by a narrow but consistent 2.9% to 3.8%.

The Geekbench tests flip the result. In Geekbench multicore, the i5-2450P scores 1796 against 1712, a 4.9% lead that exceeds any Cinebench margin in either direction. In Geekbench singlecore, the i5-2450P scores 590 against 581, a 1.5% lead. These two wins give the i5-2450P its overall 2-6 win record, but the magnitude analysis changes the interpretation.

The i5-3450S's six wins average roughly 3.1% each. The i5-2450P's two wins average roughly 3.2% each. The total point swing in the i5-3450S's favor across all Cinebench tests is about 89 points across the six tests, while the i5-2450P claws back 93 points across the two Geekbench tests. The overall average benchmark score reflects this near-balance: 1099 for the i5-3450S, 1086 for the i5-2450P, a 1.2% spread.

The Geekbench multicore result is particularly interesting because it is the only test where the i5-2450P beats the i5-3450S by a margin larger than the Cinebench margins the i5-3450S enjoys. This suggests the i5-2450P's higher 3.20 GHz base clock provides a tangible benefit in workloads that do not scale as heavily with architectural efficiency. The i5-3450S's Ivy Bridge architecture, despite a 0.40 GHz lower base clock, wins every Cinebench test, indicating that the newer architecture more than compensates for the clock deficit in rendering workloads.

Specification Differences

The i5-2450P and i5-3450S differ in several core specifications despite sharing their socket, core count, and cache hierarchy. The i5-2450P uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, while the i5-3450S uses Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm process. The transistor count rises from 1,160 million in the i5-2450P to 1,400 million in the i5-3450S, while the die size shrinks from 216 mm² to 160 mm².

Base clocks differ: the i5-2450P runs at 3.20 GHz, the i5-3450S at 2.80 GHz. Both boost to 3.50 GHz. TDP differs significantly: 95 W for the i5-2450P, 65 W for the i5-3450S. The i5-3450S includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics; the i5-2450P lists none. The i5-3450S released about three months later, on 2012-04-28 versus 2012-01-29. Part numbers also differ: SR0G1 for the i5-2450P, SR0P2 for the i5-3450S.

Both processors share the same socket (Intel Socket 1155), core count (4), thread count (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), memory support (DDR3, dual-channel), PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes, CPU only), ECC support (absent), and multiplier lock (locked). Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.