Athlon II X3 405e vs Xeon L5240

Athlon II X3 405e vs Xeon L5240 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 405e

3 / 3

1,331

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon L5240

1,337

+0.5%

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 Xeon L5240 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 Xeon L5240: 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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,331 vs 1,337).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Xeon L5240 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon L5240

2008

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon L5240 better than Athlon II X3 405e?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon L5240 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X3 405e is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon L5240 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon L5240 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark.

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

Xeon L5240 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Xeon L5240 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 405e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (13.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Athlon II X3 405e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 405e vs Xeon L5240 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.

Xeon L5240

The Xeon L5240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 40 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,337 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 405e is built on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 405e scores 1,331 against the Xeon L5240's 1,337 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon L5240. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 405e vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5240.

Feature	Athlon II X3 405e	Xeon L5240
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	—
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	—
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	3 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	—
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	—
PassMark	1,331	1,337

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 405e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon L5240 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.