CPU
GPU
A4-3400
Athlon II X2 235e
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. The A4-3400 is positioned at rank 850 and the Athlon II X2 235e is on rank 888, so the A4-3400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-3400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 235e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-3400 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-3400 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 A4-3400 and Athlon II X2 235e
A4-3400
The A4-3400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,066 points. Launch price was $50.
Athlon II X2 235e
The Athlon II X2 235e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,079 points. Launch price was $84.
Processing Power
Both the A4-3400 and Athlon II X2 235e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the A4-3400 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The A4-3400 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 235e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-3400 scores 1,066 against the Athlon II X2 235e's 1,079 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 235e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 349 vs 240, a 37% lead for the A4-3400 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A4-3400 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,066 | 1,079+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 349+45% | 240 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 450 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-3400 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 235e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-3400) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 235e) — the A4-3400 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75 (A4-3400) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e).
| Feature | A4-3400 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A4-3400 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6410D), while the Athlon II X2 235e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3400 targets Budget Desktop, Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-3400 rivals Pentium G620; Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300.
| Feature | A4-3400 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6410D | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
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