A4-5100 vs Athlon II X3 400e

A4-5100 vs Athlon II X3 400e Performance Spectrum

A4-5100

4 / 4

1,301

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X3 400e

3 / 3

1,320

+1.5%

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.

A4-5100 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.

A4-5100 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.

A4-5100

2013

Why buy it

✅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

❌Lower PassMark (1,301 vs 1,320).

Athlon II X3 400e

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while A4-5100 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-5100 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 400e better than A4-5100?

Yes. Athlon II X3 400e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 1.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 400e has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 41.9% higher max boost clock.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X3 400e is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 400e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 400e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.5% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

A4-5100 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A4-5100 vs Athlon II X3 400e Technical Specifications

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

A4-5100

The A4-5100 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: 1.55 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,301 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 A4-5100 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 400e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the A4-5100 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.55 GHz on the A4-5100 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 400e — a 34.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 400e. The A4-5100 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X3 400e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-5100 scores 1,301 against the Athlon II X3 400e's 1,320 — a 1.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 400e.

Feature	A4-5100	Athlon II X3 400e
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+33%	3 / 3
Boost Clock	1.55 GHz	2.2 GHz+42%
Base Clock	—	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	2048 kB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-38%	45 nm
Architecture	Kabini (2013−2014)	Rana (2009−2011)
PassMark	1,301	1,320+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	165	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-5100 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 A4-5100 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 400e — the A4-5100 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 (A4-5100) vs 2 (Athlon II X3 400e). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-5100) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 400e) — the A4-5100 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	A4-5100	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 (A4-5100) / not specified (Athlon II X3 400e). The A4-5100 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8330), while the Athlon II X3 400e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-5100 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-5100 rivals Pentium N3540.