Athlon 64 X2 5400+ vs A6-6420K
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
A6-6420K
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 Athlon 64 X2 5400+ is positioned at rank 1091 and the A6-6420K is on rank 656, so the A6-6420K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Performance Per Dollar A6-6420K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | A6-6420K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | A6-6420K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 64 X2 5400+ and A6-6420K
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 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: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,585 points. Launch price was $149.
A6-6420K
The A6-6420K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,571 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ and A6-6420K share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ versus 4.2 GHz on the A6-6420K — a 40% clock advantage for the A6-6420K. The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the A6-6420K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ scores 1,585 against the A6-6420K's 1,571 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5400+.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | A6-6420K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 4.2 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | — | 4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1024 kB+100% |
| Process | 90 nm | 32 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,585 | 1,571 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A6-6420K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ versus 1866 on the A6-6420K — the A6-6420K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-6420K supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5400+) vs 16 (A6-6420K) — the A6-6420K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 5400+) and FM2 (A6-6420K).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | A6-6420K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | 1866+93200% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+52428700% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5400+) / true (A6-6420K). The A6-6420K includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8470D), while the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-6420K rivals Pentium G3258.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | A6-6420K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8470D |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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