450D, 40D's little brother?

Currently I'm using a Nikon D80, but I really do not like the CCD sensor, i find it to be really too noisey comepared to most Canon's CMOS sensors, I used to have a 350D and noise and ISO was never really a concern at 800/1600.

I'm soon selling my D80 to get a new canon, I don't like how heavy my D80 is for portable reasons too, so I was wondering, I know its early on but the 450D just seems like a little 40D.

if this is the case then I want to buy the 450 but if the IQ suffers from more grain because of the 12mp move then I'm unsure - HELP?