Intel Core i5-3450 vs Intel Core i7-3612QE Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear outcome: the Intel Core i7-3612QE wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six tests. The Intel Core i5-3450 does not secure a single win in any of the recorded workloads. The i7-3612QE leads by a narrow but consistent margin, with delta values ranging from -3% to -3.6% across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites. These are not dramatic differences, but they are uniform, which suggests a real, if modest, performance advantage rather than a test-specific anomaly.

For a user choosing between these two, the data points toward the i7-3612QE for any workload where the extra multi-threading is useful. The i5-3450, with its higher base clock of 3.10 GHz against the i7's 2.10 GHz, still trails in every recorded metric, so even its clock advantage does not translate into a benchmark win. The i7-3612QE is the better pick for render workloads, as shown by its higher Cinebench scores, while the i5-3450 remains a serviceable desktop part, but the database shows it is outmatched here.

Architecture Differences

Both processors come from the same Ivy Bridge architecture and are built on the same 22 nm process node. They share the same transistor count of 1,400 million and the same die size of 160 mm². The L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core, the L2 cache is the same at 256 KB per core, and both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory bus is dual-channel for both, and neither supports ECC memory.

The first major divergence is in core and thread counts. The i5-3450 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3612QE has 4 cores and 8 threads. This means the i7 can process two threads per core, which is the primary reason it performs better in multi-threaded tests despite its lower clock speeds. The i5-3450 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i7-3612QE operates at 2.10 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The i5 runs at higher clocks, but the i7's extra threads compensate.

The thermal design power differs significantly: the i5-3450 is rated at 77 watts, while the i7-3612QE is rated at 35 watts. This is a substantial gap, and it reflects the i7's mobile market segment. The i5-3450 is a desktop part with an Intel Socket 1155, whereas the i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023, a socket designed for mobile systems. The integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3450 has Intel HD 2500, while the i7-3612QE has Intel HD 4000.

The i5-3450 supports DDR3 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the i7-3612QE has no recorded memory support or bandwidth in the database. The i5 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no recorded PCIe data. The i5 has a launch MSRP of $174, while the i7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both parts are unlocked, meaning the multiplier is not unlocked for either, and they share the same release date of 2012-04-28.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The i5-3450 has an average benchmark score of 1166, while the i7-3612QE has an average score of 1147. The i5 is slightly higher in this aggregate measure, even though the i7 wins every individual head-to-head test.

Q: Does the i7-3612QE win in single-core tests despite the i5-3450's higher clock speed?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7 scores 56 against the i5's 54, a delta of -3.6%. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7 scores 235 against 227, and in R23 single-core, the i7 scores 560 against 542. The i7 wins all single-core tests.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between these two?

A: The i5-3450 has a TDP of 77 watts, while the i7-3612QE has a TDP of 35 watts. The i7 consumes less power, which is notable given that it wins all benchmarks.

Q: Are both processors from the same architecture?

A: Yes, both are Ivy Bridge parts, built on the same 22 nm process, with the same 1,400 million transistors and 160 mm² die size. They share identical cache sizes as well.

Q: Which processor supports more threads?

A: The i7-3612QE supports 8 threads, while the i5-3450 supports 4 threads. Both have 4 cores, but the i7 enables hyper-threading, which the i5 does not.

Q: What is the release date for these processors?

A: Both were released on 2012-04-28. The i5-3450 is marked as end-of-life in the database, while the i7-3612QE has no recorded production status.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two parts:

• Cores: Both have 4 cores, so no difference there.
• Threads: The i5-3450 has 4 threads; the i7-3612QE has 8 threads.
• Base clock: The i5-3450 runs at 3.10 GHz; the i7-3612QE runs at 2.10 GHz.
• Boost clock: The i5-3450 boosts to 3.50 GHz; the i7-3612QE boosts to 3.10 GHz.
• TDP: The i5-3450 is rated at 77 watts; the i7-3612QE is rated at 35 watts.
• Socket: The i5-3450 uses Intel Socket 1155; the i7-3612QE uses Intel BGA 1023.
• Integrated graphics: The i5-3450 has Intel HD 2500; the i7-3612QE has Intel HD 4000.
• Market segment: The i5-3450 is a desktop part; the i7-3612QE is a mobile part.
• Memory support: The i5-3450 supports DDR3; the i7-3612QE has no recorded memory support.
• Memory bandwidth: The i5-3450 has 25.6 GB/s; the i7-3612QE has no recorded bandwidth.
• PCIe: The i5-3450 has Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only); the i7-3612QE has no recorded PCIe.
• Launch MSRP: The i5-3450 has a launch MSRP of $174; the i7-3612QE has no recorded MSRP.
• Part number: The i5-3450 is SR0PF; the i7-3612QE is SR0ND.
• Production status: The i5-3450 is end-of-life; the i7-3612QE has no recorded status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows the i7-3612QE winning all six recorded tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 399 against the i5's 387, a delta of -3%. In R15 single-core, the i7 scores 56 against 54, a delta of -3.6%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test shows the i7 at 1666 and the i5 at 1613, a delta of -3.2%. The R20 single-core test has the i7 at 235 and the i5 at 227, a delta of -3.4%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 3967 against 3842, a delta of -3.2%, and in R23 single-core, the i7 scores 560 against 542, also a delta of -3.2%.

The largest relative gap is in the R15 single-core test at -3.6%, while the multi-core tests consistently show a -3% to -3.2% gap. The i7's advantage is slightly larger in single-core workloads, which is unexpected given the i5's higher clock speeds. The data suggests the i7's architectural efficiency, likely tied to its hyper-threading and mobile-optimized design, gives it an edge even in single-threaded tasks. The i5-3450's Geekbench scores are recorded at 1985 for multi-core and 681 for single-core, but the i7-3612QE has no Geekbench scores in the database, so no comparison is possible there.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the i5-3450 averages 1166, while the i7-3612QE averages 1147. This puts the i5 about 1.7% higher in the aggregate, but this metric includes Geekbench scores, which are only present for the i5. Among nearest rivals, the i5-3450 sits near the AMD Opteron 6220 (1168, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-3570S (1169, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i7-2960XM (1169, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-3635QM (1170, delta -0.3%). The i7-3612QE sits near the AMD Opteron 4284 (1146, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i7-2600S (1146, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i5-4430 (1149, delta -0.2%), and the AMD Opteron 4332 HE (1144, delta 0.3%). Both parts sit at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results do not give the i5-3450 a single win, so the use-case split is largely one-sided. The i7-3612QE wins all six Cinebench tests, which are render and compute workloads. The data shows it is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering, as seen in the R15, R20, and R23 multi-core scores, where it leads by 12 to 125 points. It also wins every single-core test, so even lightly threaded applications favor the i7.

The i5-3450, despite losing all head-to-head tests, has advantages that are not captured in the benchmark wins. It has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz, which could be relevant for workloads that are not in the recorded data. It also has a lower TDP of 77 watts, though that is higher than the i7's 35 watts, so the i7 is more power-efficient. The i5 supports DDR3 with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s and has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which the i7 lacks in the database. Its launch MSRP of $174 is recorded, while the i7 has no such figure.

For a desktop user with a Socket 1155 board, the i5-3450 is the only physically compatible option, as the i7 uses BGA 1023. For a mobile user, the i7-3612QE is the clear choice, as it is a mobile part with a 35-watt TDP. The i7's integrated graphics are also better, with Intel HD 4000 against the i5's HD 2500. The data does not record any workload where the i5 wins, so the i7-3612QE is the recommended part for performance, while the i5-3450 remains viable only for its desktop socket and higher clock speeds.