Athlon II X3 400e vs Xeon 5148

Athlon II X3 400e vs Xeon 5148 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 400e

3 / 3

1,320

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon 5148

2 / 2

1,315

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 II X3 400e vs Xeon 5148 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 II X3 400e vs Xeon 5148: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon II X3 400e

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Xeon 5148 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon 5148

2006

Why buy it

✅Draws 40W instead of 45W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,315 vs 1,320).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 400e better than Xeon 5148?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon 5148 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X3 400e is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X3 400e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 400e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 400e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon 5148 is still the better pure gaming CPU with 5.9% higher max boost clock. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X3 400e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 400e vs Xeon 5148 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 400e

The Athlon II X3 400e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,320 points. Launch price was $107.

Xeon 5148

The Xeon 5148 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Woodcrest (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,315 points. Launch price was $9.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 400e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Xeon 5148 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 400e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 400e versus 2.33 GHz on the Xeon 5148 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Xeon 5148. The Athlon II X3 400e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon 5148 uses Woodcrest (2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 400e scores 1,320 against the Xeon 5148's 1,315 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 400e. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 400e	Xeon 5148
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.33 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	4 MB+700%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Woodcrest (2006)
PassMark	1,320	1,315

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 400e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon 5148 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.