Intel Core i5-3450S

The Intel Core i5-3450S is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor built on Intel’s 22 nm Ivy Bridge process. It runs at a 2.80 GHz base clock and a 3.50 GHz boost clock, with a 65 W TDP. Benchmarks place it at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1088. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Athlon 220GE, Intel Pentium 6805, Intel Core i5-2450P, and Intel Core i7-4600M, all clustered around the same aggregate score.

How It Compares

The AMD Athlon 220GE is the closest rival in aggregate performance, with an average benchmark score of 1088 and a deltaPct of 0. That means the two chips are exactly tied in the database’s average score. This is not a case of one part edging out the other; the aggregate data shows no measurable difference between them.

The Intel Pentium 6805 averages 1087, giving the Core i5-3450S a deltaPct of 0.1. The 3450S is technically ahead, but the margin is tiny. In practical terms, the aggregate benchmark results are equivalent for this pair, with only a fractional score difference separating them.

The Intel Core i5-2450P averages 1086, and the deltaPct is 0.2. Again, the lead is very small. The 3450S sits just above the i5-2450P in the average score, but the difference is not large enough to suggest a meaningful performance gap between the two processors.

The Intel Core i7-4600M averages 1091, and the deltaPct is -0.3. This is the only nearest rival with a higher average score. The 3450S trails it by 0.3 percent, which is still a narrow margin. The four closest rivals therefore form a tight cluster around the 3450S, with none of them separating itself by a substantial amount.

Power and Thermals

The 65 W TDP places the Core i5-3450S in a mainstream desktop power class. The processor uses Intel’s 22 nm Ivy Bridge process, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. Those figures help explain how four cores fit within a 65 W envelope. A capable air cooler should be sufficient; the TDP does not point toward exotic cooling requirements. The integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics also means a basic system can operate without a discrete GPU, which can reduce overall heat generation in a simple desktop build. For compact or lower-noise systems, the 65 W classification is relevant, though the exact thermal behavior will depend on the motherboard and case airflow.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark results are spread across multiple Cinebench and Geekbench versions. In Cinebench R15, the multi-core score is 372 and the single-core score is 52. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 1551 and the single-core score is 218. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 3695 and the single-core score is 521. In Geekbench, the multi-core score is 1712 and the single-core score is 581.

The average benchmark score is 1088, and the 30th percentile position shows that the chip sits below the majority of all CPUs in the database. Among its nearest rivals, the margins are extremely tight. The AMD Athlon 220GE is exactly even at 1088, with a deltaPct of 0. The Intel Pentium 6805 is at 1087, giving the 3450S a 0.1 deltaPct. The Intel Core i5-2450P is at 1086, with a 0.2 deltaPct. The Intel Core i7-4600M is at 1091, with a -0.3 deltaPct. These deltas suggest that the 3450S is not an outlier in its immediate peer group; it is one of several similarly performing processors. The absolute benchmark scores are modest, but the aggregate position relative to these specific rivals is essentially a tie.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Core i5-3450S?

A: The average benchmark score is 1088.

Q: How does the Core i5-3450S compare to the AMD Athlon 220GE?

A: Both have an average benchmark score of 1088, so the deltaPct is 0. They are tied in aggregate performance.

Q: Does the Core i5-3450S support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory support is false in the specification data.

Q: What integrated graphics does the Core i5-3450S include?

A: It includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics.

Q: What memory type and bus does the Core i5-3450S support?

A: It supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on the Core i5-3450S?

A: No, multiplierUnlocked is false.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Core i5-3450S has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning the thread count equals the core count. There are no additional logical threads to draw from. The benchmark split shows this clearly: Cinebench R15 single-core is 52 and multi-core is 372; Cinebench R20 single-core is 218 and multi-core is 1551; Cinebench R23 single-core is 521 and multi-core is 3695; Geekbench single-core is 581 and multi-core is 1712. In every case, the multi-core result is substantially larger than the single-core result, which is expected from four physical cores working together. The 2.80 GHz base clock represents the sustained floor, while the 3.50 GHz boost clock matters most for lightly threaded tasks that depend on one or two cores.

For real workloads, this means applications that scale well across four threads will see the full benefit of the CPU. Applications that need more than four threads will hit a ceiling because there are no extra virtual threads. Lightly threaded tasks, such as older games or everyday productivity, will lean on the single-core score and the boost clock. Heavily threaded tasks, such as rendering or encoding, can use all four cores, but the lack of additional threads limits the potential beyond that point.

Platform and Compatibility

The Core i5-3450S uses Intel Socket 1155 and belongs to the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process. Memory support is DDR3 with a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is not supported. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, which means the CPU is responsible for the primary 16-lane PCIe connection. It includes Intel HD 2500 integrated graphics, so a dedicated GPU is not mandatory for basic display output. The cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The part number is SR0P2, and the release date is 2012-04-28. The market segment is Desktop. Compatibility is therefore defined by Socket 1155, DDR3 memory, and the PCIe Gen 3 lane configuration; any platform built around these specifications is the natural fit.

Who Should Consider It

The Core i5-3450S makes sense for workloads that fit within four threads. The 4-core, 4-thread configuration and multi-core scores such as Cinebench R23 3695 and Geekbench multi-core 1712 indicate that moderately parallel tasks can be handled, but the 30th percentile aggregate ranking shows it is not a high-end multi-threaded performer. For office and everyday use, the single-core scores and 3.50 GHz boost are enough for responsive basic computing. For gaming, the integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics and modest single-core scores suggest that demanding modern titles are not the intended use case, while less demanding or older games may be acceptable. For creation workloads, the four-thread ceiling is the key limitation; software that can use more than four threads will not be able to take advantage of extra virtual cores. The 65 W TDP also makes this processor a reasonable choice for systems where low heat and modest cooling are priorities. It is not a chip for high-end, heavily threaded rendering or the latest high-fidelity gaming, but within its four-thread envelope it remains competitive with its nearest rivals.