Athlon II X3 405e vs Processor N50
Athlon II X3 405e
Processor N50
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 II X3 405e is positioned at rank 935 and the Processor N50 is on rank 1066, so the Athlon II X3 405e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 405e
Performance Per Dollar Processor N50
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 405e | Processor N50 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-N (2023) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 405e | Processor N50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1093%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) |
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 X3 405e and Processor N50
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.
Processor N50
The Processor N50 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): + 6 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 4800 MHz Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,339 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 405e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Processor N50 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 3.4 GHz on the Processor N50 — a 38.6% clock advantage for the Processor N50 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 1 GHz). The Athlon II X3 405e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Processor N50 uses Alder Lake-N (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 405e scores 1,331 against the Processor N50's 1,339 — a 0.6% lead for the Processor N50. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 405e vs 6 MB (total) on the Processor N50.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Processor N50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+48% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+130% | 1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 10 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Alder Lake-N (2023) |
| PassMark | 1,331 | 1,339 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 405e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Processor N50 uses FCBGA1264 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Processor N50 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FCBGA1264 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 405e launched at $100 MSRP, while the Processor N50 debuted at $128. At current prices ($10 vs $120), the Athlon II X3 405e is $110 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 405e delivers 133.1 pts/$ vs 11.2 pts/$ for the Processor N50 — making the Athlon II X3 405e the 169.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Processor N50 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-22% | $128 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-92% | $120 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.1+1088% | 11.2 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2023 |
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