Athlon II X2 280 vs Core i5-13400F
Athlon II X2 280
Core i5-13400F
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. The Athlon II X2 280 is positioned at rank #638 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 II X2 280
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-13400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 II X2 280 and Core i5-13400F
Athlon II X2 280
The Athlon II X2 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,355 points. Launch price was $100.
Core i5-13400F
The Core i5-13400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 25,029 points. Launch price was $196.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 280 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i5-13400F offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 280 versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F — a 24.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X2 280 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-13400F uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 280 scores 1,355 against the Core i5-13400F's 25,029 — a 179.5% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 290 vs 2,407, a 157% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 550 vs 11,408 (181.6% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 280 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 10 / 16+400% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.6 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+44% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% |
| Process | 45 nm | Intel 7 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 1,355 | 25,029+1747% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 16,211 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 290 | 2,407+730% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | 11,408+1974% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 280 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-13400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 280 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F — the Core i5-13400F supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13400F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 280) vs 20 (Core i5-13400F) — the Core i5-13400F offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 870,880G,890GX,890FX,970,990X,990FX (Athlon II X2 280) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+67% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 192 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 280) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 280 targets Legacy Desktop, Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 280 rivals Pentium E6700; Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 280 launched at $50 MSRP, while the Core i5-13400F debuted at $196. At current prices ($15 vs $180), the Athlon II X2 280 is $165 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 280 delivers 90.3 pts/$ vs 139.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-13400F — making the Core i5-13400F the 42.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i5-13400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-74% | $196 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-92% | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.3 | 139.1+54% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2023 |
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