CPU
GPU
Core i5-450M
Athlon X2 QL-60
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 i5-450M is positioned at rank 10 and the Athlon X2 QL-60 is on rank 783, so the Core i5-450M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-450M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-60
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-450M | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-450M | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ 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 i5-450M and Athlon X2 QL-60
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i5-450M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon X2 QL-60's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M versus 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-450M. The Core i5-450M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-450M scores 1,264 against the Athlon X2 QL-60's 1,273 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-60. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-450M vs 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-60.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz+40% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,264 | 1,273 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-450M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Core i5-450M versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — the Core i5-450M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-450M) vs 0 (Athlon X2 QL-60) — the Core i5-450M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M) and AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-60).
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+53200% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 8 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-450M) / not specified (Athlon X2 QL-60). 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.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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