Intel Core i5-3450S vs Intel Core i7-2670QM Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3450S and Intel Core i7-2670QM are two legacy Intel processors separated by more than just their market segments. The i5-3450S is a desktop part built on Ivy Bridge, while the i7-2670QM is a mobile part based on Sandy Bridge. Despite the i7 branding and its Hyper-Threading advantage, the head-to-head benchmark data consistently favors the newer desktop chip. Across all seven recorded comparisons, the i5-3450S wins outright, but the margins vary significantly by workload type. This analysis breaks down where each processor holds an edge, what architectural differences explain the results, and which user should consider each part based solely on the available benchmark data.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3450S wins every head-to-head test, but the size of its victories tells a clear story about workload suitability. In single-core tests, the i5-3450S dominates. Its scores in Cinebench R20 single-core (222 vs 188) and Cinebench R23 single-core (529 vs 448) both show an 18.1% lead over the i7-2670QM. This edge is also visible in Geekbench single-core, where it wins by 4.5% (581 vs 556). The i5-3450S is the clear choice for lightly threaded applications like older games or everyday productivity tasks that rely on one or two cores.

For multi-threaded workloads, the i5-3450S still wins, but the i7-2670QM’s Hyper-Threading narrows the gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3450S scores 377 against the i7-2670QM’s 320, a 17.8% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1573 vs 1334, a 17.9% lead) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3747 vs 3177, also 17.9%). However, Geekbench multi-core tells a different story: the i5-3450S wins by only 4% (1712 vs 1646). This suggests that in certain multi-threaded scenarios, the i7-2670QM’s eight threads can compensate for its lower clock speeds, though not enough to overcome the i5-3450S’s architectural advantages.

The i7-2670QM has no benchmark wins in this dataset. Its best relative showing is in Geekbench multi-core, where the 4% deficit is the smallest margin between the two parts. This indicates that while the i7-2670QM is competitive in mixed-thread workloads, it cannot match the i5-3450S in any recorded test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent adjacent Intel generations with fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i5-3450S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-2670QM uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This process shrink gives the i5-3450S a significant efficiency and performance-per-clock advantage. The i5-3450S has 1,400 million transistors packed into a 160 mm² die, whereas the i7-2670QM has 1,160 million transistors on a larger 216 mm² die. The newer, denser process allows for better power characteristics despite the i5-3450S having a higher thermal design power (TDP) of 65 watts compared to the i7-2670QM’s 45 watts.

Both processors feature four physical cores, but the i7-2670QM adds Hyper-Threading, bringing its thread count to eight versus the i5-3450S’s four. This is the i7-2670QM’s primary theoretical advantage. However, the i5-3450S counters with higher clock speeds: a 2.80 GHz base clock and 3.50 GHz boost clock, compared to the i7-2670QM’s 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The cache configuration is identical — 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 — so the performance difference comes down to clocks and architecture rather than cache size.

The socket and platform differ completely. The i5-3450S uses Intel Socket 1155 for desktop systems, while the i7-2670QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B) for mobile laptops. The i5-3450S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while no PCIe specification is listed for the i7-2670QM. Integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3450S features Intel HD 2500, while the i7-2670QM has Intel HD 3000. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory, though memory support is not specified for the i7-2670QM. The i5-3450S was released on 2012-04-28, while the i7-2670QM came earlier on 2011-10-11. The i7-2670QM is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3450S has no production status listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking results come from the Cinebench suite, where the i5-3450S shows near-identical margins across different versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3450S scores 377 against 320 for the i7-2670QM, a 17.8% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1573 vs 1334, a 17.9% lead, and Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern with 3747 vs 3177, again 17.9%. This consistency suggests that the i5-3450S’s architectural efficiency and higher clock speeds provide a stable performance advantage regardless of the rendering workload’s version.

Single-core results are even more decisive. Cinebench R20 single-core gives the i5-3450S a score of 222 versus 188 for the i7-2670QM, an 18.1% win. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 529 vs 448, also an 18.1% margin. These are the largest percentage differences in the entire benchmark set, underscoring the i5-3450S’s superiority in tasks that cannot leverage additional threads.

The Geekbench results are notably different. Geekbench multi-core shows the i5-3450S scoring 1712 against the i7-2670QM’s 1646, a relatively narrow 4% margin. Geekbench single-core shows 581 vs 556, a 4.5% edge. The dramatic reduction in the multi-core gap — from around 18% in Cinebench to just 4% in Geekbench — highlights how the i7-2670QM’s eight threads help in certain synthetic workloads. Geekbench multi-core appears to scale better with thread count, allowing the i7-2670QM to partially offset its clock speed and architecture disadvantages. Still, the i5-3450S wins every test, totaling 7 wins to 0 for the i7-2670QM.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-2670QM ever faster than the Intel Core i5-3450S?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark data, the i5-3450S wins all seven tests. The i7-2670QM’s closest result is Geekbench multi-core, where it trails by only 4% (1646 vs 1712).

Q: Why does the i7-2670QM have more threads but still lose?

A: The i7-2670QM has 8 threads versus 4 for the i5-3450S, but the i5-3450S has higher base and boost clocks (2.80/3.50 GHz vs 2.20/3.10 GHz) and a newer 22 nm Ivy Bridge architecture. The thread advantage helps in Geekbench multi-core, where the gap narrows to 4%, but it cannot overcome the i5-3450S’s per-core strength in Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gaps are in single-core tests. Both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core show the i5-3450S leading by 18.1%. Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core all show a 17.8-17.9% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The performance difference is not explained by cache capacity.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The i5-3450S uses a 22 nm process node, while the i7-2670QM uses a 32 nm node. The i5-3450S also has more transistors (1,400 million vs 1,160 million) on a smaller die (160 mm² vs 216 mm²).

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Neither the i5-3450S nor the i7-2670QM has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Threads: The i5-3450S has 4 threads; the i7-2670QM has 8 threads.
• Base Clock: The i5-3450S runs at 2.80 GHz; the i7-2670QM at 2.20 GHz.
• Boost Clock: The i5-3450S boosts to 3.50 GHz; the i7-2670QM to 3.10 GHz.
• TDP: The i5-3450S has a 65-watt TDP; the i7-2670QM has a 45-watt TDP.
• Socket: The i5-3450S uses Intel Socket 1155; the i7-2670QM uses Intel Socket G2 (988B).
• Architecture: The i5-3450S is Ivy Bridge; the i7-2670QM is Sandy Bridge.
• Process Node: The i5-3450S uses 22 nm; the i7-2670QM uses 32 nm.
• Transistors: The i5-3450S has 1,400 million; the i7-2670QM has 1,160 million.
• Die Size: The i5-3450S is 160 mm²; the i7-2670QM is 216 mm².
• Integrated Graphics: The i5-3450S has Intel HD 2500; the i7-2670QM has Intel HD 3000.
• PCIe: The i5-3450S supports Gen 3 with 16 lanes; the i7-2670QM has no listed PCIe support.
• Memory Support: The i5-3450S supports DDR3; no memory support is listed for the i7-2670QM.
• Market Segment: The i5-3450S is Desktop; the i7-2670QM is Mobile.
• Production Status: The i7-2670QM is end-of-life; the i5-3450S has no status listed.
• Release Date: The i5-3450S was released on 2012-04-28; the i7-2670QM on 2011-10-11.
• Part Number: The i5-3450S is SR0P2; the i7-2670QM is SR02N.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i5-3450S is the stronger processor in every benchmark recorded. Its victory in all seven head-to-head tests, including substantial 17.8-18.1% margins in Cinebench workloads, makes it the recommended choice for any task where raw performance is the priority. The i5-3450S’s higher clock speeds and newer Ivy Bridge architecture overcome the i7-2670QM’s Hyper-Threading advantage in both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Desktop users building or upgrading a Socket 1155 system should select the i5-3450S without hesitation.

The Intel Core i7-2670QM, however, is not without merit for its intended mobile segment. Its 45-watt TDP is significantly lower than the i5-3450S’s 65 watts, making it a more power-efficient option for laptops. The 4% gap in Geekbench multi-core shows that its eight threads can compete in certain mixed workloads. Mobile users constrained by Socket G2 (988B) and seeking a processor with Hyper-Threading for light multithreading may still find the i7-2670QM adequate. But for absolute performance, the i5-3450S wins decisively across all tested benchmarks.