CPU
GPU
A6-5400K
Athlon X2 450
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 A6-5400K is positioned at rank 765 and the Athlon X2 450 is on rank 760, so the Athlon X2 450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A6-5400K
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A6-5400K | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A6-5400K | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 A6-5400K and Athlon X2 450
A6-5400K
The A6-5400K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,279 points. Launch price was $70.
Athlon X2 450
The Athlon X2 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,295 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the A6-5400K and Athlon X2 450 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A6-5400K versus 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The A6-5400K uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 450 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the A6-5400K scores 1,279 against the Athlon X2 450's 1,295 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon X2 450. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 390 vs 450, a 14.3% lead for the Athlon X2 450 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A6-5400K | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.9 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+3% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (total) |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,279 | 1,295+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 390 | 450+15% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 800 |
Memory & Platform
The A6-5400K uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 450 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The A6-5400K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A88X (A6-5400K) and A88X,A78,A68H (Athlon X2 450).
| Feature | A6-5400K | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A6-5400K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A6-5400K includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7540D), while the Athlon X2 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-5400K targets Budget Desktop, Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop. Direct competitor: A6-5400K rivals Pentium G2120; Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.
| Feature | A6-5400K | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 7540D | None |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Basic Desktop |
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