Ryzen 5 3450U vs Core i3-9100
Ryzen 5 3450U
Core i3-9100
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i3-9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($125) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i3-9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($125) |
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 Ryzen 5 3450U and Core i3-9100
Ryzen 5 3450U
The Ryzen 5 3450U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,550 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-9100
The Core i3-9100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,586 points. Launch price was $122.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 3450U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i3-9100's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-9100 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i3-9100 uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3450U scores 6,550 against the Core i3-9100's 6,586 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-9100. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i3-9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.2 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-14% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,550 | 6,586 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-9100 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i3-9100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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