Ryzen 5 3450U vs Xeon E3-1280 v2
Ryzen 5 3450U
Xeon E3-1280 v2
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 Xeon E3-1280 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3450U | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Xeon E3-1280 v2
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.
Xeon E3-1280 v2
The Xeon E3-1280 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,619 points. Launch price was $645.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 3450U and Xeon E3-1280 v2 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v2 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v2 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3450U scores 6,550 against the Xeon E3-1280 v2's 6,619 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v2. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v2.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-45% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 6,550 | 6,619+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3450U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3450U | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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