Intel Core i5-3450 vs Intel Core i7-2600K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-3450 and Intel Core i7-2600K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i5-3450

Intel Core i7-2600K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3450

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 2 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 23% lower typical power consumption: 77 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 7% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1871 vs 1744
Around 44% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 2657 vs 1845
Around 2% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.132 vs 5.018

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2012 vs 3 January 2011
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1871 vs 1744
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2657 vs 1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.132 vs 5.018

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 9% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Around 8% higher maximum core temperature: 72.6°C vs 67.4°C
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5483 vs 4499
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 811 vs 721
Around 31% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3117 vs 2379
Around 46% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.524 vs 3.092
Around 6% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 77.745 vs 73.265
Around 64% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.602 vs 0.367
Around 23% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 2.129 vs 1.736

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Maximum core temperature	72.6°C vs 67.4°C
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 6144 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	5483 vs 4499
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	811 vs 721
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3117 vs 2379
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.524 vs 3.092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	77.745 vs 73.265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.602 vs 0.367
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	2.129 vs 1.736

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-3450
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1871

1744

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4499

5483

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

721

811

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2379

3117

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

2657

1845

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.092

4.524

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

73.265

77.745

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.367

0.602

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.736

2.129

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.132

5.018

Name	Intel Core i5-3450	Intel Core i7-2600K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1871	1744
PassMark - CPU mark	4499	5483
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	721	811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2379	3117
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	2657	1845
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	3.092	4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	73.265	77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.367	0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.736	2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.132	5.018
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2004
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2004

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-3450	Intel Core i7-2600K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	April 2012	3 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$186	$317
Place in performance rating	2294	2315
Price now	$127.99	$189.99
Processor Number	i5-3450	i7-2600K
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	15.00	13.10
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.10 GHz	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1024 KB
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	67 °C
Maximum core temperature	67.4°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	1400 million	995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x152	0x112
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2500	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	77 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011D
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)