Athlon 64 X2 4000+
Ryzen 5 3600
Athlon 64 X2 4000+ vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum
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.
Athlon 64 X2 4000+ vs Ryzen 5 3600 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Warzone
Athlon 64 X2 4000+ vs Ryzen 5 3600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
Athlon 64 X2 4000+
2006Why buy it
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (380 vs 1,898).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.6 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($328 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
- ❌36.9% higher power demand at 89W vs 65W.
Ryzen 5 3600
2019Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +628.5% higher average FPS across 47 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Costs $129 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $328 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 2380.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 3.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $328 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 89W, a 24W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.
Quick Answers
So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Athlon 64 X2 4000+?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon 64 X2 4000+ vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Athlon 64 X2 4000+
The Athlon 64 X2 4000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,175 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 4000+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 71% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600. The Athlon 64 X2 4000+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ scores 1,175 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 175.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 195 vs 1,295, a 147.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 380 vs 1,898 (133.3% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 4.2 GHz+110% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 90 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-92% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 1,175 | 17,685+1405% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 195 | 1,295+564% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 380 | 1,898+399% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 4000+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 300% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 3100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 4000+) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: nForce 500,AMD 690G (Athlon 64 X2 4000+) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 4.0+264% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR4-3200+300% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 128 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 64 X2 4000+) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Athlon 64 X2 4000+ targets Legacy Desktop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ was priced at $328, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($328 vs $199), Ryzen 5 3600 was $129 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ delivers 3.6 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 184.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $328 | $199-39% |
| Performance per Dollar | 3.6 | 88.9+2369% |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2019 |
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