Athlon II X3 450 vs Xeon E5345

Athlon II X3 450 vs Xeon E5345 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 450

3 / 3

1,865

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5345

4 / 4

1,868

+0.2%

Core 2 Duo E7400

Celeron Dual-Core SU2300

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 II X3 450 vs Xeon E5345 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 II X3 450 vs Xeon E5345: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X3 450

2010

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Xeon E5345.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,865 vs 1,868).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5345, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Xeon E5345 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.

Xeon E5345

2006

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.
✅Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 450.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 450 better than Xeon E5345?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5345 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X3 450 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5345 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 450 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 450 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $87 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon E5345 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.2% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (21.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 II X3 450 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 450 vs Xeon E5345 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 450

The Athlon II X3 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.

Xeon E5345

The Xeon E5345 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Clovertown (2006−2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.33 GHz, with boost up to 0.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,868 points. Launch price was $851.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 450 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Xeon E5345 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5345 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 versus 0.33 GHz on the Xeon E5345 — a 162.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.33 GHz). The Athlon II X3 450 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5345 uses Clovertown (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 450 scores 1,865 against the Xeon E5345's 1,868 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5345. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450 vs 8 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5345.

Feature	Athlon II X3 450	Xeon E5345
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+870%	0.33 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+37%	2.33 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	8 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	4 MB (total)+700%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Clovertown (2006−2007)
PassMark	1,865	1,868
Geekbench 6 Single	380	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	980	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 450 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5345 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.