A4-5050 vs Athlon II X3 400e

A4-5050 vs Athlon II X3 400e Performance Spectrum

A4-5050

4 / 4

1,328

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X3 400e

3 / 3

1,320

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A4-5050 vs Athlon II X3 400e FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A4-5050 vs Athlon II X3 400e: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-5050

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 8330, while Athlon II X3 400e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Athlon II X3 400e

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,320 vs 1,328).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while A4-5050 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-5050 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-5050 better than Athlon II X3 400e?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 400e is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A4-5050 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-5050 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A4-5050 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A4-5050 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. Athlon II X3 400e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (13.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A4-5050 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-5050 vs Athlon II X3 400e Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A4-5050

The A4-5050 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,328 points. Launch price was $50.

Athlon II X3 400e

The Athlon II X3 400e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,320 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

The A4-5050 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 400e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the A4-5050 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the A4-5050 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 400e — a 37.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 400e. The A4-5050 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 400e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-5050 scores 1,328 against the Athlon II X3 400e's 1,320 — a 0.6% lead for the A4-5050. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	A4-5050	Athlon II X3 400e
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+33%	3 / 3
Boost Clock	1.5 GHz	2.2 GHz+47%
Base Clock	—	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Kabini (2013−2014)	Rana (2009−2011)
PassMark	1,328	1,320
Geekbench 6 Single	180	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-5050 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 400e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the A4-5050 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 400e — the A4-5050 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 400e supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A4-5050) vs 2 (Athlon II X3 400e). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-5050) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 400e) — the A4-5050 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	A4-5050	Athlon II X3 400e
Socket	FT3	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600+20%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	0

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-5050) / not specified (Athlon II X3 400e). The A4-5050 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8330), while the Athlon II X3 400e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-5050 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-5050 rivals Pentium N3530.