
Core i5-3450S vs Core i3-8100H

Core i5-3450S

Core i3-8100H
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-3450S is positioned at rank 685 and the Core i3-8100H is on rank 602, so the Core i3-8100H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3450S
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8100H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3450S | Core i3-8100H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3450S | Core i3-8100H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core i3-8100H

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.

Core i3-8100H
The Core i3-8100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 July 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,435 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-3450S and Core i3-8100H share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3450S versus 3 GHz on the Core i3-8100H — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-3450S (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-3450S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-8100H uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3450S scores 4,399 against the Core i3-8100H's 4,435 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-8100H. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3450S vs 6 MB on the Core i3-8100H.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Core i3-8100H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+17% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 6 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,399 | 4,435 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3450S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-8100H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Core i3-8100H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-3450S) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8100H). The Core i3-8100H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i5-3450S requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8100H targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-3450S | Core i3-8100H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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