Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-3450

Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-3450 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 240GE

2 / 4

4,561

+1.0%

FX-9800P

Athlon X4 830

Ryzen Embedded V1202B

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-3450

4 / 4

4,517

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-3450 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-3450: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 240GE

2018

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $109 less on MSRP ($75 MSRP vs $184 MSRP).
✅Delivers 147.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 60.8 vs 24.5 PassMark/$ ($75 MSRP vs $184 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 77W, a 42W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core i5-3450.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Core i5-3450

2012

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,517 vs 4,561).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.5 vs 60.8 PassMark/$ ($184 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).
❌120% higher power demand at 77W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 240GE.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 240GE better than Core i5-3450?

Yes. Athlon 240GE is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 240GE is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 240GE is the better buy right now. Athlon 240GE comes in $109 cheaper on MSRP at $75 MSRP versus $184 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 147.7% better value on MSRP (60.8 vs 24.5 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon 240GE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 240GE vs Core i5-3450 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 240GE

The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.

Core i5-3450

The Core i5-3450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,517 points. Launch price was $186.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3450 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3450 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3450 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3450 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Core i5-3450's 4,517 — a 1% lead for the Athlon 240GE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3450.

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i5-3450
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+13%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	6144 kB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	4,561	4,517
Geekbench 6 Single	930	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,200	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 240GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3450 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE versus 1600 on the Core i5-3450 — the Athlon 240GE supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 240GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 16 (Core i5-3450) — the Core i5-3450 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i5-3450
Socket	AM4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+67%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs true (Core i5-3450). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and Intel HD Graphics 2500 (Core i5-3450) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i5-3450
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	Intel HD Graphics 2500
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Budget Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 240GE was priced at $75, while the Core i5-3450 came in at $184. On launch pricing ($75 vs $184), Athlon 240GE was $109 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 60.8 pts/$ vs 24.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-3450 — making the Athlon 240GE the 85% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 240GE	Core i5-3450
MSRP	$75-59%	$184
Performance per Dollar	60.8+148%	24.5
Release Date	2018	2012

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