Core i5-3450S vs Pentium Gold G6505

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.

Core i5-3450S vs Pentium Gold G6505 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.

Core i5-3450S vs Pentium Gold G6505: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-3450S

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $174 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G6505 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Pentium Gold G6505

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 58W instead of 65W, a 7W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,371 vs 4,399).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G6505 better than Core i5-3450S?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium Gold G6505 is ahead with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3450S pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark. Core i5-3450S also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3450S is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Pentium Gold G6505 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold G6505 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $174 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-3450S only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (25.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

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

Pentium Gold G6505 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-3450S vs Pentium Gold G6505 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Pentium Gold G6505

The Pentium Gold G6505 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-R (2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 4,371 points. Launch price was $75.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-3450S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Gold G6505 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 4.2 GHz on the Pentium Gold G6505 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold G6505 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i5-3450S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium Gold G6505 uses Comet Lake-R (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3450S scores 4,399 against the Pentium Gold G6505's 4,371 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-3450S. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-3450S vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold G6505.

Feature	Core i5-3450S	Pentium Gold G6505
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.2 GHz+20%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	4.2 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	6144 kB (total)+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Comet Lake-R (2021)
PassMark	4,399	4,371

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-3450S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G6505 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.