Athlon 240GE vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Athlon 240GE
Ryzen 9 5900X
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 240GE
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+168%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 Athlon 240GE and Ryzen 9 5900X
Athlon 240GE
The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.
Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.
Processing Power
The Athlon 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 31.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 158.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 930 vs 2,174, a 80.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,200 vs 11,888 (137.5% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 12 / 24+500% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.8 GHz+37% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 64 MB+1500% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 4,561 | 38,955+754% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 930 | 2,174+134% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200 | 11,888+440% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 240GE) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 24+200% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Athlon 240GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 3 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 240GE launched at $75 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. At current prices ($110 vs $350), the Athlon 240GE is $240 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 41.5 pts/$ vs 111.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Ryzen 9 5900X the 91.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 240GE | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-86% | $549 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-69% | $350 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.5 | 111.3+168% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2020 |
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