Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-4010U

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-4010U Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 5600+

2 / 2

1,665

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-4010U

2 / 4

1,660

0.0%

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 5600+ vs Core i3-4010U 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.

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-4010U: 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 5600+

2006

Why buy it

✅Draws 89W instead of 512W, a 423W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $505 MSRP, while Core i3-4010U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4010U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-4010U

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Athlon 64 X2 5600+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,660 vs 1,665).
❌475.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 89W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 X2 5600+ better than Core i3-4010U?

Yes. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $505 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4010U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-4010U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 64 X2 5600+

The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 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: 2.9 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: 1,665 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-4010U

The Core i3-4010U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,660 points. Launch price was $281.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-4010U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus 1.7 GHz on the Core i3-4010U — a 52.2% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i3-4010U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ scores 1,665 against the Core i3-4010U's 1,660 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4010U.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5600+	Core i3-4010U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+71%	1.7 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K+100%	256K (per core)
Process	90 nm	22 nm-76%
Architecture	Windsor (2006−2007)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,665	1,660

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-4010U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4010U — the Core i3-4010U supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) vs 12 (Core i3-4010U) — the Core i3-4010U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5600+	Core i3-4010U
Socket	AM2	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3L-1600+100%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	12

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4010U). The Core i3-4010U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4010U targets Mobile.