Core i5-3450S vs Athlon 220GE
Core i5-3450S
Athlon 220GE
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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 i5-3450S is positioned at rank #685 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3450S
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 220GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+197%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-3450S and Athlon 220GE
Core i5-3450S
The Core i5-3450S 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 2.8 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,399 points. Launch price was $150.
Athlon 220GE
The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3450S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon 220GE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3450S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3450S versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-3450S (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-3450S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon 220GE uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3450S scores 4,399 against the Athlon 220GE's 4,441 — a 1% lead for the Athlon 220GE. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3450S vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+3% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 4,399 | 4,441 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 886 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,023 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3450S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon 220GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-3450S) / AMD-V (Athlon 220GE). The Athlon 220GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i5-3450S requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-3450S launched at $174 MSRP, while the Athlon 220GE debuted at $65. At current prices ($20 vs $60), the Core i5-3450S is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-3450S delivers 219.9 pts/$ vs 74.0 pts/$ for the Athlon 220GE — making the Core i5-3450S the 99.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Athlon 220GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $174 | $65-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-67% | $60 |
| Performance per Dollar | 219.9+197% | 74.0 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2018 |
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