Core i5-2450M vs Ryzen 9 5900X

Core i5-2450M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2012

Ryzen 9 5900X

12 Cores24 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-2450M

2 / 4

2,076

0.0%

38,955

+1776.4%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i5-2450M is positioned at rank #1100 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2450M

#1088

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3179%

#1089

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3132%

#1090

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2875%

#1091

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2862%

#1092

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2836%

#1094

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2739%

#1095

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2626%

#1096

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2622%

#1097

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2551%

#1100

Core i5-2450M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

100%

#1101

Core i5-7Y57

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1102

Core i5-7Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $100

100%

#1104

Pentium 997

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

98%

#1105

Pentium A1018

MSRP: $132|Avg: $15

98%

#1106

Core i5-2430M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

97%

#1108

Pentium Dual Core T4500

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

97%

#1109

Celeron B820

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

96%

#1110

Pentium B980

MSRP: $125|Avg: $35

95%

#1111

Celeron 867

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

95%

#1112

Pentium B970

MSRP: $125|Avg: $39

95%

#1113

Core i5-2410M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

94%

#1114

Pentium T2370

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

94%

#1115

Pentium N3710

MSRP: $161|Avg: $50

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X

#141

Core i9-13900K

MSRP: $599|Avg: $500

105%

#142

Core i3-14100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $131

104%

#143

Ryzen 5 3400G

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

103%

#144

Core i7-10700KF

MSRP: $405|Avg: $160

103%

#145

Core i5-11600K

MSRP: $262|Avg: $170

103%

#146

Core i7-13700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $400

103%

#147

Ryzen 5 PRO 3400G

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

102%

#148

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $150

102%

#149

Core i9-12900KS

MSRP: $739|Avg: $385

102%

#150

Ryzen 5 5500X3D

MSRP: $185|Avg: $180

101%

#151

Core Ultra 7 265T

MSRP: $384|Avg: $362

101%

#152

Ryzen 3 3200GE

MSRP: $85|Avg: $64

101%

#153

Core i3-9100T

MSRP: $122|Avg: $50

101%

#154

Ryzen 5 4600G

MSRP: $154|Avg: $143

100%

#155

Core i7-13700T

MSRP: $384|Avg: $250

100%

#156

Ryzen 9 5900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $350

100%

#157

Core i7-13700F

MSRP: $359|Avg: $345

100%

#158

Core i5-13600T

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

99%

#159

Ryzen 5 3400GE

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

99%

#160

Core i7-12700F

MSRP: $314|Avg: $275

99%

#161

Core i5-9400

MSRP: $192|Avg: $85

99%

#162

Core i3-13100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $128

99%

#163

Core i9-10910

MSRP: $488|Avg: $200

96%

#164

Core i5-14600T

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

96%

#165

Core i5-11500T

MSRP: $192|Avg: $120

95%

#166

Ryzen 7 5700X3D

MSRP: $249|Avg: $249

95%

#167

Ryzen 3 8300GE

MSRP: $129|Avg: $129

95%

#168

Core i3-13100T

MSRP: $134|Avg: $122

94%

#169

Core i5-10600T

MSRP: $213|Avg: $110

94%

#170

Ryzen 3 3200G

MSRP: $100|Avg: $67

94%

#171

Core Ultra 9 285

MSRP: $589|Avg: $550

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Ryzen 9 5900X (2020) utilizes 7 nm, 12 nm technology and DDR4-3200, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i5-2450M	Ryzen 9 5900X
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($225)	⚠️ Higher cost ($350)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i5-2450M (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i5-2450M	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+1106%)
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($225)	⚠️ Higher cost ($350)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-2450M Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2450M and Ryzen 9 5900X

Core i5-2450M

The Core i5-2450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,076 points. Launch price was $823.

Ryzen 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-2450M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-2450M versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 43% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-2450M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2450M scores 2,076 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 179.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,352 vs 21,000 (175.8% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 453 vs 2,174, a 131% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 871 vs 11,888 (172.7% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2450M vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Core i5-2450M	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	12 / 24+500%
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz	4.8 GHz+55%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	64 MB+2033%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	32 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-78%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	2,076	38,955+1776%
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,352	21,000+1453%
Geekbench 6 Single	453	2,174+380%
Geekbench 6 Multi	871	11,888+1265%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-2450M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core i5-2450M versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Core i5-2450M supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2450M) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2450M) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).

Feature	Core i5-2450M	Ryzen 9 5900X
Socket	PGA988	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	1333+33225%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	16	128 GB+838860700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Core i5-2450M) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). The Core i5-2450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-2450M rivals AMD A8-3500M; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.