Athlon II X4 605e vs Ryzen 7 5700X
Athlon II X4 605e
Ryzen 7 5700X
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 X4 605e is positioned at rank #923 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 X4 605e
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 5700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+94%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
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 X4 605e and Ryzen 7 5700X
Athlon II X4 605e
The Athlon II X4 605e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 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: 1,964 points. Launch price was $102.
Ryzen 7 5700X
The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 605e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 605e versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon II X4 605e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 605e scores 1,964 against the Ryzen 7 5700X's 26,609 — a 172.5% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,140 vs 14,000 (169.9% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 2,116, a 150.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,069 vs 9,715 (160.3% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 605e vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700X.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 4.6 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+48% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,964 | 26,609+1255% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,140 | 14,000+1128% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | 2,116+605% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,069 | 9,715+809% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 605e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 605e versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 5700X — the Ryzen 7 5700X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 5700X 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: 16 (Athlon II X4 605e) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5700X) — the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X4 605e) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700X).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 7 5700X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 605e targets Desktop, Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 605e launched at $143 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5700X debuted at $299. At current prices ($25 vs $175), the Athlon II X4 605e is $150 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 605e delivers 78.6 pts/$ vs 152.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700X — making the Ryzen 7 5700X the 63.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $143-52% | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-86% | $175 |
| Performance per Dollar | 78.6 | 152.1+94% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2022 |
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