Athlon 3000G vs Core i5-3450

Athlon 3000G vs Core i5-3450 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 3000G

2 / 4

4,446

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Core i5-3450

4 / 4

4,517

+1.6%

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 3000G 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 3000G 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 3000G

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $135 less on MSRP ($49 MSRP vs $184 MSRP).
✅Delivers 269.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 90.7 vs 24.5 PassMark/$ ($49 MSRP vs $184 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 77W, a 42W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Core i5-3450.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,446 vs 4,517).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Core i5-3450

2012

Why buy it

✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.5 vs 90.7 PassMark/$ ($184 MSRP vs $49 MSRP).
❌120% higher power demand at 77W vs 35W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 3000G.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-3450 better than Athlon 3000G?

Yes. Core i5-3450 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.6% better PassMark, 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, Core i5-3450 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i5-3450 is still the better call for a fresh build. Core i5-3450 comes in 275.5% more expensive on MSRP at $184 MSRP versus $49 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 3000G only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 4,446 PassMark with 2 cores and 4 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

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

Athlon 3000G makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 3000G vs Core i5-3450 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 3000G

The Athlon 3000G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) 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: 4,446 points. Launch price was $49.

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 3000G 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 3000G versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3450 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon 3000G uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3450 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 3000G scores 4,446 against the Core i5-3450's 4,517 — a 1.6% lead for the Core i5-3450. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 3000G vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3450.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	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+ (2018−2019)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	4,446	4,517+2%
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,800	—
Geekbench 6 Single	956	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,970	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 3000G 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 2666 on the Athlon 3000G versus 1600 on the Core i5-3450 — the Athlon 3000G supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 3000G supports up to 64 of RAM compared to 32 — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-3450
Socket	AM4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	2666+67%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64+100%	32
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support true virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 3 Graphics (Athlon 3000G) and Intel HD Graphics 2500 (Core i5-3450) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon 3000G rivals Pentium Gold G6400.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-3450
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3 Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 2500
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	true

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 3000G was priced at $49, while the Core i5-3450 came in at $184. On launch pricing ($49 vs $184), Athlon 3000G was $135 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 3000G delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 24.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-3450 — making the Athlon 3000G the 114.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 3000G	Core i5-3450
MSRP	$49-73%	$184
Performance per Dollar	90.7+270%	24.5
Release Date	2019	2012

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