Intel BX80637I53450 Core i5-3450 Quad-Core CPU

Name: Intel BX80637I53450 Core i5-3450 Quad-Core CPU
Brand: Intel
SKU: BX80637I53450

Overview

The Intel Core i5-3450 is a third-generation (Ivy Bridge) quad-core processor on Intel's 22nm node, operating at 3.1 GHz base and 3.5 GHz single-core Turbo Boost with a 77W TDP. Its 6MB shared L3 cache is the Ivy Bridge i5 standard — large enough to hold frequently accessed working data for multi-threaded productivity workloads without repeatedly incurring DRAM latency. For its original platform generation, the i5-3450 represented a capable mid-tier desktop CPU; evaluated today, it occupies the budget refresh and legacy upgrade tier, offering a cost-effective performance step-up on LGA 1155 boards that previously housed i3 or Pentium G series CPUs.

This CPU's primary use cases in the current market are: upgrading an existing LGA 1155 system that cannot be replaced outright due to budget or infrastructure constraints; building an entry-level NAS or home server where multi-threaded throughput exceeds single-core frequency as the bottleneck; or equipping a basic desktop workstation for document editing, web browsing, and media playback. It is not a competitive choice for new builds — current budget platforms offer dramatically superior IPC, core counts, and memory bandwidth. For buyers who already own LGA 1155 motherboards, however, the i5-3450 delivers a tangible performance upgrade over dual-core and lower-clocked predecessors at minimal cost.

Key Features

3.10 GHz

6 MB L3 Cache

Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

Specifications

Processor

Intel Core i5-3450

Architecture

Ivy Bridge (22nm)

Core Count

4 (Quad-Core, no Hyper-Threading)

Base Clock

3.10 GHz

Turbo Boost (Max)

3.50 GHz

L3 Cache

6MB

Socket

LGA 1155

TDP

77W

Integrated Graphics

Intel HD Graphics 2500

Max Memory Support

32GB DDR3

Technology

Turbo Boost 2.0

Similar Products

Other products from the same family that visitors often consider:

✓ Available

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

The 3.5 GHz single-core Turbo Boost clock handles single-threaded legacy application performance solidly — still above the base clock of many entry-level current-generation budget CPUs in raw IPC tasks.
6MB of shared L3 cache across four cores reduces DRAM access frequency for cache-resident workloads, providing measurably better multi-thread cache utilization than 3MB alternatives.
The 77W TDP is manageable for standard ATX and mATX LGA 1155 platforms without requiring premium VRM or active cooling solutions.
Turbo Boost 2.0 dynamically elevates single-core frequency without manual tuning — responsive single-threaded performance without overclocking complexity.
The retail BX-prefixed box includes Intel's stock cooler, making it a complete drop-in solution for LGA 1155 platform upgrades with no additional thermal hardware required.

👎 Cons

The locked multiplier on the i5-3450 prevents overclocking — users who want frequency headroom on this platform must step to the i5-3570K or i7-3770K, which carry a K-suffix.
Intel HD Graphics 2500 has significantly fewer execution units than the HD 4000 found on i7 Ivy Bridge CPUs — GPU-accelerated workloads like HEVC decode and Quick Sync encoding perform noticeably worse.
LGA 1155 platform support is fully discontinued — no new chipset-compatible components are in production, and sourcing replacement motherboards relies entirely on used or new-old-stock inventory.
The i5-3450 supports a maximum of 32GB DDR3 RAM — a ceiling that constrains VM-heavy or large-dataset workloads that have become common in modern productivity environments.
Four cores with no Hyper-Threading means the i5-3450 shows its age in multi-threaded benchmarks against current-gen processors that pack 8+ cores at similar or lower TDP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What socket does the i5-3450 use, and which motherboards are compatible?

The i5-3450 uses the LGA 1155 socket, compatible with Intel 6-series (Sandy Bridge) and 7-series (Ivy Bridge) chipset motherboards — including H61, H67, Z68, B75, H77, Z77, and related variants. It is not compatible with LGA 1150, LGA 1151, or any later Intel socket. Verify your specific motherboard model supports Ivy Bridge CPUs, as some 6-series boards require a BIOS update.

What are the real-world clock speeds achievable with Turbo Boost on the i5-3450?

The i5-3450 has a 3.1 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.5 GHz on a single active core via Turbo Boost 2.0. All four cores are active for multi-threaded workloads; Turbo Boost frequency drops proportionally with core utilization. This is a locked multiplier CPU — overclocking is not supported on non-K chipsets.

How does the i5-3450's 6MB L3 cache affect performance versus the i5-3450S or i5-3470?

The i5-3450 shares 6MB L3 cache with the i5-3470 but runs at a slightly lower base clock. The cache size directly affects performance in cache-bound workloads — larger working data sets that fit in L3 avoid DRAM latency penalties. For most desktop tasks, the 6MB L3 provides adequate buffering for multi-threaded throughput.

Does the i5-3450 include integrated graphics, and what is supported?

Yes — the i5-3450 includes Intel HD Graphics 2500, supporting DirectX 11, H.264 hardware decode, and up to 1080p output. HD 2500 is the lower-tier integrated GPU in the Ivy Bridge lineup (HD 4000 is the higher tier), with reduced EU count. It handles basic display output and video playback but is not suitable for gaming or GPU-accelerated compute.

Does this CPU include a stock cooler, and is it adequate for sustained workloads?

The BX80637 retail box includes an Intel stock cooler — a standard aluminum heatsink with a push-pin fan. It is adequate for keeping the i5-3450 within thermal limits at box speeds during typical office and productivity workloads. For sustained encoding or gaming sessions, a 120mm tower cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 will improve thermal headroom and reduce fan noise.