Intel Core i5-3450S vs Intel Pentium 6805 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3450S and Intel Pentium 6805 are separated by nearly a decade of silicon design, yet their aggregate benchmark scores converge at an identical 1099 average, placing both in the 31st percentile of all CPUs. This equilibrium is remarkable given their contrasting architectures: the i5-3450S is a 2012-era quad-core desktop part on Intel's 22 nm Ivy Bridge node, while the Pentium 6805 is a 2020 mobile processor with two cores and four threads on 10 nm Ice Lake-Y. The data reveals a fascinating case where process-node efficiency and architectural advancements neutralize a core-count disadvantage, resulting in a statistical tie. Across every head-to-head Cinebench test, the Pentium 6805 wins by a narrow margin, yet the i5-3450S remains competitive in multi-threaded workloads due to its physical core advantage. This analysis explores where each chip excels, how their internal designs dictate performance, and what the benchmark numbers imply for real-world usage.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium 6805 claims victory in all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but its wins are consistently slim, ranging from 1.3% to 1.9% deltas. In single-core tests, the Pentium 6805 demonstrates its architectural superiority: it scores 54 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus the i5-3450S's 53, and 536 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 529. These margins, while small, show that the newer Sunny Cove-Y cores deliver higher instructions-per-clock, allowing the Pentium's 3.00 GHz boost clock to outpace the i5-3450S's 3.50 GHz boost. The Pentium 6805 also wins every multi-core test, including Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3801 versus 3747, despite having only two physical cores against the i5-3450S's four. This suggests the Pentium's two cores with four threads, combined with a 10 nm process, overcome the i5's raw core count through superior per-thread efficiency.

The Intel Core i5-3450S, while losing every benchmark, still holds a structural advantage in multi-threaded scenarios. Its four physical cores provide independent execution units, whereas the Pentium's four threads rely on hyper-threading on just two cores. The data shows the i5-3450S is only 1.4% behind in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3747 vs 3801), which is a remarkably tight margin given the core-count difference. This indicates that in workloads that scale linearly with physical cores—such as video encoding or scientific simulations—the i5-3450S may close the gap further or even overtake the Pentium, as the Cinebench suite may not fully stress all four cores simultaneously. For users running heavily parallel tasks, the i5-3450S's quad-core design offers a more robust foundation, while the Pentium 6805 excels in bursty, single-threaded applications like web browsing or office productivity.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors is vast. The i5-3450S uses Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm node with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die, while the Pentium 6805 employs Ice Lake-Y on a 10 nm process with a smaller 123 mm² die. This node shrink allows the Pentium to achieve higher efficiency, evidenced by its 15 W TDP versus the i5-3450S's 65 W. The i5-3450S features four cores and four threads, whereas the Pentium 6805 has two cores and four threads, meaning the Pentium relies on hyper-threading to reach four threads while the i5 uses pure physical cores. Cache configurations differ notably: the i5-3450S has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3, while the Pentium 6805 has 80 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with only 4 MB shared L3. The larger per-core L1 cache in the Pentium (80 KB vs 64 KB) suggests a more efficient cache hierarchy, compensating for its smaller L3 pool.

Memory support diverges significantly: the i5-3450S uses DDR3 with dual-channel bus, while the Pentium 6805 supports DDR4 with dual-channel and a defined memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-3450S has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Pentium 6805 has PCIe Gen 3 without a specified lane count. Integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3450S packs Intel HD 2500, while the Pentium 6805 includes UHD Graphics (32EU), which likely offers better media capabilities. The socket and market segment highlight their intended uses—the i5-3450S targets desktops on Intel Socket 1155, while the Pentium 6805 is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1526, soldered to the motherboard. Production status also differs, with the Pentium 6805 marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3450S has no status listed, indicating it may still be in circulation for legacy systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data tells a consistent story of narrow Pentium 6805 superiority. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium scores 383 against the i5-3450S's 377, a 1.6% delta. The single-core R15 test shows 54 versus 53, a 1.9% delta—the largest margin of any test. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 1596 versus 1573 (1.4% delta), and single-core is 225 versus 222 (1.3% delta). The Cinebench R23 tests mirror this pattern: multi-core yields 3801 versus 3747 (1.4% delta), while single-core is 536 versus 529 (1.3% delta). The consistency of these margins—never exceeding 1.9% and never dropping below 1.3%—suggests a stable performance gap that scales with clock speed and IPC rather than core count.

The most telling result is the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Pentium's 3801 score edges out the i5-3450S's 3747 by just 54 points. This outcome defies conventional expectations: a two-core processor beating a quad-core chip in a multi-threaded workload. The explanation lies in the Pentium's higher base clock of 1100.00 MHz—though this figure appears anomalous for a boost clock of 3.00 GHz—and its superior per-core efficiency from the newer architecture. The i5-3450S, with its 2.80 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, cannot compensate for the IPC deficit. Interestingly, the Geekbench results are not included in the head-to-head, but they show the i5-3450S scoring 1712 multi-core and 581 single-core, which would likely follow the same pattern if compared directly.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-3450S has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Pentium 6805 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. The i5's core advantage is offset by the Pentium's hyper-threading.

Q: How do their TDP ratings compare?

A: The i5-3450S has a 65 W TDP, while the Pentium 6805 is rated at 15 W. This makes the Pentium significantly more power-efficient, suitable for mobile devices, whereas the i5 targets desktop systems.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Pentium 6805 wins with a score of 3801 versus the i5-3450S's 3747, a 1.4% delta. This is despite the Pentium having fewer physical cores, indicating its architectural efficiency.

Q: What are the memory type differences?

A: The i5-3450S supports DDR3 memory, while the Pentium 6805 uses DDR4. The Pentium also lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the i5 does not specify a bandwidth figure.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both the i5-3450S and Pentium 6805 have multiplierUnlocked set to false, meaning neither supports overclocking through multiplier adjustments.

Q: Which processor has a newer production status?

A: The Pentium 6805 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-3450S has no production status listed. This suggests the i5 may still be available, though both are older designs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3450S | Intel Pentium 6805 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel BGA 1526 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Ice Lake |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Ice Lake-Y |

| Generation | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) | Pentium (Sunny Cove-Y) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 123 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2500 | UHD Graphics (32EU) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2020-09-30 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $161 |

| Part Number | SR0P2 | SRK0U |

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Pentium 6805 across every tested workload, with wins ranging from 1.3% to 1.9%. For users prioritizing single-threaded performance—such as everyday productivity, web browsing, or light gaming—the Pentium 6805 is the superior choice, as its newer architecture delivers higher IPC despite a lower boost clock (3.00 GHz vs 3.50 GHz). Its 15 W TDP also makes it ideal for fanless or ultra-portable designs, where the i5-3450S's 65 W draw would be prohibitive. The Pentium's DDR4 support and defined 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth further modernize the platform, while its UHD Graphics (32EU) likely offers better media playback than the i5's HD 2500.

However, the Intel Core i5-3450S should not be dismissed. Its four physical cores provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads that Cinebench may not fully expose. The data shows it trails by only 1.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is negligible, and its larger 6 MB L3 cache could benefit certain data-heavy tasks. For users with existing Socket 1155 motherboards or those running legacy software optimized for multiple physical cores, the i5-3450S remains a viable option. Its lack of a production status suggests it may still be obtainable, whereas the Pentium 6805 is explicitly end-of-life. Ultimately, the Pentium 6805 wins on technical merit and efficiency, but the i5-3450S offers a balanced quad-core alternative for desktop builders who value core count over architectural novelty. The choice hinges on whether you prioritize the Pentium's efficiency and IPC or the i5's physical core redundancy.