Core i5-450M vs Phenom II X2 B57

Core i5-450M vs Phenom II X2 B57 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-450M

2 / 4

1,264

+0.3%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

1,260

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i5-450M vs Phenom II X2 B57 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 i5-450M vs Phenom II X2 B57: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-450M

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 80W, a 45W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake), while Phenom II X2 B57 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 B57 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X2 B57

2010

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,260 vs 1,264).
❌128.6% higher power demand at 80W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-450M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-450M better than Phenom II X2 B57?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X2 B57 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 i5-450M pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark. Phenom II X2 B57 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-450M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-450M is the better buy right now. Core i5-450M comes in at an unclear MSRP at $32 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X2 B57 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (39.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i5-450M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-450M vs Phenom II X2 B57 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Phenom II X2 B57

The Phenom II X2 B57 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,260 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-450M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Phenom II X2 B57's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X2 B57 — a 18.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 B57 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-450M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 B57 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-450M scores 1,264 against the Phenom II X2 B57's 1,260 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-450M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-450M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 B57.

Feature	Core i5-450M	Phenom II X2 B57
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.66 GHz	3.2 GHz+20%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	6 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Arrandale (2010−2011)	Callisto (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,264	1,260

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-450M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 B57 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-450M	Phenom II X2 B57
Socket	PGA988	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	8	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i5-450M) / not specified (Phenom II X2 B57). The Core i5-450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Phenom II X2 B57 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.