Intel Core i5-3450S vs Intel Core i7-2710QE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3450S and Intel Core i7-2710QE represent two distinct approaches to Intel’s 2011-2012 era silicon: one a desktop-oriented chip built on a newer process, the other a mobile-focused part with hyper-threading. While both land at the same 31st percentile among all CPUs in the benchmark database, their individual results tell a clear story of generational efficiency versus thread-count advantage. The data shows a decisive winner in every head-to-head test, but the reasons behind that sweep go beyond raw core counts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-3450S wins all five recorded benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from 17.4% to 18.1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3450S scores 377 against the i7-2710QE’s 321, a 17.4% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-3450S posts 1573 versus 1338, a 17.6% lead. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3747 for the i5-3450S versus 3186 for the i7-2710QE, again a 17.6% delta.

Single-core results are even more lopsided in percentage terms. The i5-3450S scores 222 in Cinebench R20 single-core, beating the i7-2710QE’s 188 by 18.1%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-3450S hits 529 while the i7-2710QE manages 449, a 17.8% difference. Even the i5-3450S’s Geekbench scores, which have no direct comparison in the head-to-head table, reinforce its edge: 1712 multi-core and 581 single-core. The i7-2710QE lacks Geekbench entries in the dataset.

These margins are consistent and substantial. The i5-3450S is roughly 18% faster in single-threaded workloads and about 17.5% faster in multi-threaded ones. That consistency suggests the i7-2710QE’s extra four threads (8 versus 4) cannot compensate for its lower clock speeds and older architecture. The i7-2710QE does have a higher average benchmark score of 1096, but that is only 0.3% behind the i5-3450S’s 1099, a statistical tie. The head-to-head tests, however, are unambiguous: the i5-3450S wins every round.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel families and process nodes. The i5-3450S is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors packed into a 160 mm² die. The i7-2710QE uses Sandy Bridge, a larger 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The i5-3450S’s smaller, denser process gives it a clear efficiency and clock-speed advantage, even though it lacks hyper-threading.

Both CPUs have four physical cores and 6 MB of shared L3 cache, with identical 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per-core caches. The difference lies in threads: the i5-3450S has 4 threads, while the i7-2710QE has 8. Despite that thread advantage, the i7-2710QE’s base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 3.00 GHz fall well short of the i5-3450S’s 2.80 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Clock speed trumps thread count in these benchmarks.

Integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3450S pairs with Intel HD 2500, while the i7-2710QE uses Intel HD 3000. Both are capable of basic display output, but neither is a gaming powerhouse. The i5-3450S supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-2710QE has no PCIe data listed. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel on both, with no ECC on either.

The i7-2710QE is marked as end-of-life production, while the i5-3450S’s production status is not listed. The i5-3450S is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1155, whereas the i7-2710QE targets mobile with Intel Socket G2 (988B). The i5-3450S also has a newer release date, arriving in April 2012 versus January 2011 for the i7-2710QE.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-3450S as the superior processor in every measured workload. Its 22 nm Ivy Bridge architecture delivers higher clocks and better per-core performance, which proves more valuable than the i7-2710QE’s hyper-threading. The i5-3450S wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, with margins between 17.4% and 18.1% that are too large to ignore.

Users seeking maximum multi-threaded throughput on a desktop should favor the i5-3450S. It achieves 3747 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a score that places it ahead of the i7-2710QE by 561 points. Even in single-core tasks, where the i7-2710QE’s threads offer no benefit, the i5-3450S leads by nearly 18%. The i7-2710QE’s 8 threads do not translate into a win anywhere in the dataset.

The i7-2710QE’s only potential justification is its mobile form factor. As a 45 W part on Socket G2, it fits into laptops where the i5-3450S’s 65 W desktop design cannot. That power envelope and socket compatibility are the sole advantages the data supports. For any desktop application, the i5-3450S is the clear choice. For mobile systems requiring a quad-core i7, the i7-2710QE remains functional, but benchmark results indicate it will trail the i5-3450S in performance.

Both chips sit at the 31st percentile overall, meaning they are mid-pack performers by modern standards. The i5-3450S’s nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium 6805 and Xeon E5-1603 v3, all within 0.2% of its average score. The i7-2710QE’s closest competitor is the i7-2670QM, also at a 0% delta. These are comparable parts, but the head-to-head data leaves no ambiguity about which of the two is faster.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3450S | Intel Core i7-2710QE |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket G2 (988B) |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 216 mm² |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | Intel HD 3000 |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2011-01-02 |

| Part Number | SR0P2 | SR02T |

Both processors share 4 cores, 6 MB L3 cache, dual-channel DDR3 memory support, and lack ECC and unlocked multipliers. The L1 and L2 cache configurations are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450S wins all multi-core tests, scoring 3747 in Cinebench R23 versus the i7-2710QE’s 3186, a 17.6% advantage.

Q: Does the i7-2710QE’s hyper-threading help it win any benchmark?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus the i5-3450S’s 4, the i7-2710QE loses all five head-to-head tests, with the smallest deficit being 17.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The i5-3450S leads by 18.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core (222 versus 188) and by 17.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (529 versus 449).

Q: Which chip uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The i5-3450S uses a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors, while the i7-2710QE uses a 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall ranking?

A: Yes, both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs. The i5-3450S has an average benchmark score of 1099, and the i7-2710QE scores 1096, a difference of 0.3%.

Q: Which processor is designed for mobile devices?

A: The i7-2710QE is a mobile part on Intel Socket G2 (988B) with a 45 W TDP. The i5-3450S is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1155 with a 65 W TDP.