
Pentium J2900 vs Core i5-450M

Pentium J2900

Core i5-450M
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 Pentium J2900 is positioned at rank 1013 and the Core i5-450M is on rank 10, 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 Pentium J2900
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-450M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-D (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) |
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 Pentium J2900 and Core i5-450M

Pentium J2900
The Pentium J2900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.41 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,254 points. Launch price was $94.

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.
Processing Power
The Pentium J2900 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-450M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium J2900 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Pentium J2900 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.41 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Pentium J2900 uses the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-450M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium J2900 scores 1,254 against the Core i5-450M's 1,264 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-450M. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium J2900 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-450M.
| Feature | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.41 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-D (2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,254 | 1,264 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium J2900 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium J2900) / true (Core i5-450M). The Core i5-450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Pentium J2900 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium J2900 launched at $94 MSRP, while the Core i5-450M debuted at $32. At current prices ($20 vs $31), the Pentium J2900 is $11 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium J2900 delivers 62.7 pts/$ vs 40.8 pts/$ for the Core i5-450M — making the Pentium J2900 the 42.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium J2900 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $94 | $32-66% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-35% | $31 |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.7+54% | 40.8 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2010 |
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