Athlon II X3 405e vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Athlon II X3 405e
Ryzen 9 5900X
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 X3 405e is positioned at rank #935 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 X3 405e
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+20%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 Ryzen 9 5900X
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.
Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 405e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 9 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 405e versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 70.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Athlon II X3 405e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 405e scores 1,331 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 186.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 405e vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 12 / 24+300% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz+109% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 64 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,331 | 38,955+2827% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 405e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 405e versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 5900X — the Ryzen 9 5900X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 405e) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 405e) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 128 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 405e) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 405e launched at $100 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. At current prices ($10 vs $350), the Athlon II X3 405e is $340 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 405e delivers 133.1 pts/$ vs 111.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Athlon II X3 405e the 17.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 405e | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-82% | $549 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-97% | $350 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.1+20% | 111.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2020 |
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