Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Core i5-450M

Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Core i5-450M Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 QL-60

2 / 2

1,273

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-450M

2 / 4

1,264

0.0%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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 X2 QL-60 vs Core i5-450M 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 X2 QL-60 vs Core i5-450M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon X2 QL-60

2008

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-450M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-450M

2010

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake), while Athlon X2 QL-60 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,264 vs 1,273).
❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while Athlon X2 QL-60 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-450M better than Athlon X2 QL-60?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-450M is ahead with a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-60 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-60 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Core i5-450M is the better buy right now. Core i5-450M comes in at an unclear MSRP at $32 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon X2 QL-60 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (39.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i5-450M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Core i5-450M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X2 QL-60

The Athlon X2 QL-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,273 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-450M

The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X2 QL-60 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-450M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-60 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-450M. The Athlon X2 QL-60 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-450M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-60 scores 1,273 against the Core i5-450M's 1,264 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-60. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-60 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-450M.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-60	Core i5-450M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	2.66 GHz+40%
Base Clock	—	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Lion (2008−2009)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,273	1,264

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 QL-60 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-60 versus 1066 on the Core i5-450M — the Core i5-450M supports 59.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 QL-60) vs 16 (Core i5-450M) — the Core i5-450M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-60) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M).

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-60	Core i5-450M
Socket	S1	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	1066+60%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-60) / true (Core i5-450M). The Core i5-450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.