Ryzen 5 3450U vs Core i7-970
Ryzen 5 3450U
Core i7-970
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 i7-970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($289) |
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 i7-970
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 i7-970
The Core i7-970 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,547 points. Launch price was $662.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 3450U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-970 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-970 — a 1.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3450U (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-970 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3450U scores 6,550 against the Core i7-970's 6,547 — a 0% lead for the Ryzen 5 3450U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-970.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+1% | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 12 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-63% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,550 | 6,547 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-970 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 24 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 36 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 3450U) / VT-x (Core i7-970). Primary use case: Core i7-970 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Core i7-970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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