6450 as core switch

[reggaez]

I need to design a small network for a company. Requires a core switch and 2-3 Access switches. Due to budget constraints, stacking 6850e is too expensive.

Is it possible for 6450 stacking as a core switch?

[devnull]

I would not call it Core Switch.. but yeah you can use a 6450 stack as a central instance.
You will not win much when using 6850 (as i believe you won't need enhanced L3 routing vrf aso..)

You could even have 10G in the 6450 (with perf license).

I often use 6900/MC-Lag as Core, but this would be overkill for 5 switches..

Depending on Bandwidth needs:
2*OS6450-24 + XNIU2 + Stacking as Core
3* 6450 as Edges (attached with LACP two both "Core Members").

When bandwidth/10G Port needs increase i'd opt for 6900s