Intel Core i5-3450S vs Intel Core i7-10510Y Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along one axis: sustained compute workloads versus mobility-oriented design. The Intel Core i5-3450S wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, five out of five. It holds a clear lead in both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench tests. The i5-3450S posts 377 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 319 for the i7-10510Y, an 18.2% advantage. That pattern repeats across R20 and R23, with the desktop chip winning by roughly 18% every time.

The Intel Core i7-10510Y does not win a single benchmark in the database. However, its wins are contextual. The i7-10510Y is a 9 W mobile processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, built for thin-and-light laptops. Its 30th percentile rank versus all CPUs places it just below the i5-3450S, which sits at the 31st percentile. The i7-10510Y's average benchmark score is 1092, nearly equal to the i5-3450S's 1099. That near-parity in the aggregate hides the fact that the i5-3450S wins every direct comparison, but the i7-10510Y achieves that score with dramatically lower power draw and a much newer architecture.

The i5-3450S is the choice for anyone running sustained multi-core workloads like video rendering, 3D modeling, or software compilation. The i7-10510Y is the choice for anyone who needs a competent processor in a fanless or passively cooled ultraportable, where the 9 TDP makes the i5-3450S's 65 TDP physically impossible to deploy.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the Intel Core i5-3450S is the faster CPU in every benchmark the database records. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 18.1% to 18.7%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-3450S scores 3747, which is 18.1% ahead of the i7-10510Y's 3173. In single-core R23, the i5-3450S scores 529, which is 18.3% ahead of the i7-10510Y's 447.

The i7-10510Y, despite losing every direct comparison, is not a failure. Its average score of 1092 is only 0.6% behind the i5-3450S's 1099. That gap is negligible. The i7-10510Y's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-4600M, scores 1093, meaning the i7-10510Y sits within 0.1% of that older mobile chip. The i7-10510Y also has a much higher boost clock (4.50 versus 3.50 GHz), which explains why its single-core deficits are not larger.

The verdict: pick the i5-3450S if you need maximum compute throughput and have a desktop motherboard with the required socket. Pick the i7-10510Y if you need a mobile processor with enough single-core speed for everyday tasks, and if the 9W power envelope is a non-negotiable constraint. The data does not support the i7-10510Y as a faster CPU, but it fully supports it as a practical mobile chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the i5-3450S comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 222 versus 187 for the i7-10510Y. That is an 18.7% lead, the highest delta in the entire comparison. The smallest win is in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-3450S scores 1573 versus 1332, a 18.1% difference.

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows an 18.2% win for the i5-3450S, with scores of 377 and 319 respectively. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: multi-core 3747 versus 3173 (18.1%), and single-core 529 versus 447 (18.3%). The consistency is telling. Every workload, whether it scales across four cores (the i5-3450S) or eight threads (the i7-10510Y), favors the older desktop part. The i7-10510Y's extra threads do not translate into a win in any multi-threaded benchmark, because its 9W power limit constrains sustained clocks.

The i7-10510Y's best scores, relative to the i5-3450S, are in the aggregate database average, not in any single test. Its average of 1092 is only 0.6% behind the i5-3450S's 1099. This suggests that across a wider set of workloads not in the head-to-head list, the mobile chip can close the gap. But in the recorded benchmarks, the i5-3450S wins every time, and the i7-10510Y has zero head-to-head victories in the database.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-10510Y ever beat the Intel Core i5-3450S in any benchmark?

A: No. The database records 5 head-to-head benchmarks, all won by the i5-3450S. The i7-10510Y has zero wins.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3450S in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-3450S scores 3747, and the i7-10510Y scores 3173. That gives the i5-3450S an 18.1% advantage.

Q: What is the power difference between the two chips?

A: The i5-3450S has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-10510Y has a TDP of 9 watts. That is a 56-watt difference, making the i7-10510Y suitable for fanless mobile designs.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-10510Y has a boost clock of 4.5 GHz, while the i5-3450S boosts to 3.5 GHz. The i7-10510Y's higher boost clock does not translate into benchmark wins.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i5-3450S has an average score of 1099, and its nearest rival, the Intel Pentium 6805, scores exactly 1099 (0% delta). The i7-10510Y has an average score of 1092, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-4600M, scores 1093 (a 0.1% delta).

Q: Are both CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the i5-3450S and the i7-10510Y have a locked multiplier (multiplierUnlocked is false for both).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The i5-3450S is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process from Intel. The i7-10510Y is built on Comet Lake (specifically Comet Lake-Y), a 14 nm process. The i5-3450S has a transistor count of 1,400 million on a 160 mm² die, while the i7-10510Y's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The i5-3450S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-10510Y has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-10510Y's Hyper-Threading gives it double the thread count. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs: the i5-3450S has 6 MB shared, while the i7-10510Y has 8 MB shared.

The i5-3450S supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The i7-10510Y also supports DDR3, but its memory bus configuration is not specified in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The i5-3450S uses a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1155), while the i7-10510Y is a mobile part soldered to an Intel BGA 1440 socket. The i5-3450S exposes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-10510Y's PCIe configuration is not listed.

The integrated graphics differ. The i5-3450S includes Intel HD 2500, while the i7-10510Y includes UHD Graphics. The i7-10510Y is the only one of the two with an active production status in the database.

The release dates highlight the generational gap. The i5-3450S was released on April 28, 2012, while the i7-10510Y was released on August 20, 2019, a difference of over seven years. The i5-3450S belongs to the Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) generation, while the i7-10510Y belongs to the Core 10th Gen (Comet Lake-Y) series.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications, and only the differences are listed here.

• Threads: The i5-3450S has 4 threads, while the i7-10510Y has 8 threads.
• Base clock: The i5-3450S runs at 2.8 GHz, while the i7-10510Y has a base clock of 12.0 GHz (recorded as 1200.00 in the database, which is a 1.2 GHz base).
• Boost clock: The i5-3450S boosts to 3.5 GHz, while the i7-10510Y boosts to 4.5 GHz.
• TDP: The i5-3450S is rated at 65 watts, the i7-10510Y at 9 watts.
• Socket: The i5-3450S uses Intel Socket 1155, the i7-10510Y uses Intel BGA 1440.
• Process node: The i5-3450S is 22nm, the i7-10510Y is 14nm.
• L3 cache: The i5-3450S has 6 MB shared, the i7-10510Y has 8 MB shared.
• Integrated graphics: The i5-3450S has Intel HD 2500, the i7-10510Y has UHD Graphics.
• Market segment: The i5-3450S is desktop, the i7-10510Y is mobile.
• Production status: The i5-3450S has no status recorded, the i7-10510Y is listed as active.
• Release date: April 2012 for the i5-3450S, August 2019 for the i7-10510Y.
• PCIe: The i5-3450S has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-10510Y has no recorded PCIe specification.
• Memory bus: The i5-3450S is dual-channel, while the i7-10510Y's memory bus is not listed.
• Part number: The i5-3450S has the part number SR0P2, while the i7-10510Y has no part number listed.
• Transistors and die size: The i5-3450S has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the i7-10510Y has no data for either field.