Athlon 64 X2 5400+ vs Core 2 Duo SU9400
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Core 2 Duo SU9400
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 Core 2 Duo SU9400 is on rank 409, so the Core 2 Duo SU9400 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 Core 2 Duo SU9400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core 2 Duo SU9400
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.
Core 2 Duo SU9400
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,596 points. Launch price was $262.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ and Core 2 Duo SU9400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ versus 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5400+. The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ scores 1,585 against the Core 2 Duo SU9400's 1,596 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo SU9400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+100% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 3 MB+500% |
| Process | 90 nm | 45 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,585 | 1,596 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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