Athlon II X3 405e vs Pentium Dual Core T4500

Athlon II X3 405e vs Pentium Dual Core T4500 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 405e

3 / 3

1,331

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium Dual Core T4500

2 / 2

1,336

+0.4%

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 405e vs Pentium Dual Core T4500 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 405e vs Pentium Dual Core T4500: 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 405e

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Delivers 49.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 13.3 vs 8.9 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,331 vs 1,336).
❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.

Pentium Dual Core T4500

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.9 vs 13.3 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Dual Core T4500 better than Athlon II X3 405e?

Yes. Pentium Dual Core T4500 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Dual Core T4500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium Dual Core T4500 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Dual Core T4500 comes in 50.0% more expensive on MSRP at $150 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 405e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 49.4% better value on paper (13.3 vs 8.9 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Pentium Dual Core T4500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 405e vs Pentium Dual Core T4500 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 405e

The Athlon II X3 405e 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 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: 1,331 points. Launch price was $80.

Pentium Dual Core T4500

The Pentium Dual Core T4500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,336 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 405e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium Dual Core T4500 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 405e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 405e versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Dual Core T4500 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Athlon II X3 405e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Dual Core T4500 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 405e scores 1,331 against the Pentium Dual Core T4500's 1,336 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium Dual Core T4500. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 405e	Pentium Dual Core T4500
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB+100%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	1,331	1,336

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 405e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Dual Core T4500 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 405e versus DDR3-800 on the Pentium Dual Core T4500 — the Athlon II X3 405e supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 405e supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Athlon II X3 405e	Pentium Dual Core T4500
Socket	AM3	P
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+67%	DDR3-800
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 405e) / No VT-x (Pentium Dual Core T4500). Primary use case: Pentium Dual Core T4500 targets Mobile.

Feature	Athlon II X3 405e	Pentium Dual Core T4500
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	No VT-x
Target Use	—	Mobile

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 405e was priced at $100, while the Pentium Dual Core T4500 came in at $150. On launch pricing ($100 vs $150), Athlon II X3 405e was $50 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 405e delivers 13.3 pts/$ vs 8.9 pts/$ for the Pentium Dual Core T4500 — making the Athlon II X3 405e the 39.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 405e	Pentium Dual Core T4500
MSRP	$100-33%	$150
Performance per Dollar	13.3+49%	8.9
Release Date	2009	2010

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