Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-13400F

AMD

Athlon II X4 615e

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i5-13400F

10 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023
Core family
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Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-13400F Performance Spectrum

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 X4 615e vs Core i5-13400F 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 X4 615e vs Core i5-13400F: 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 X4 615e

2010

Why buy it

  • Costs $10 less on MSRP ($186 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13400F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,161 vs 16,211).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.8 vs 127.7 PassMark/$ ($186 MSRP vs $196 MSRP).
  • Older platform position on AM3, while Core i5-13400F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-13400F

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +332.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Delivers 1077.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 127.7 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($196 MSRP vs $186 MSRP).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM3 and older memory support.
  • 25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • 5.4% HIGHER MSRP
    $196 MSRPvs$186 MSRP
  • 44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13400F better than Athlon II X4 615e?
Yes. Core i5-13400F is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 332.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1296.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 1140.3% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Core i5-13400F is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 332.1% 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, Core i5-13400F is the stronger fit. You are getting 1296.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-13400F is the better buy right now. Core i5-13400F comes in 5.4% more expensive on MSRP at $196 MSRP versus $186 MSRP, and it still gives you a 332.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1077.0% better value on MSRP (127.7 vs 10.8 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-13400F makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2010), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM3, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-13400F Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X4 615e

The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 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: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.

Intel

Core i5-13400F

The Core i5-13400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 25,029 points. Launch price was $196.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-13400F offers 10 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-13400F has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13400F — a 59.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-13400F uses Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core i5-13400F's 25,029 — a 170.2% lead for the Core i5-13400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,161 vs 16,211 (173.3% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 331 vs 2,407, a 151.6% lead for the Core i5-13400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,161 vs 11,408 (163.1% advantage for the Core i5-13400F). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-13400F.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615eCore i5-13400F
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
10 / 16+150%
Boost Clock
2.5 GHz
4.6 GHz+84%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
2.5 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
20 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
Process
45 nm
Intel 7 nm-84%
Architecture
Propus (2009−2011)
Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)
PassMark
2,018
25,029+1140%
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,161
16,211+1296%
Geekbench 6 Single
331
2,407+627%
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,161
11,408+883%
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-13400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 615e versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-13400F — the Core i5-13400F supports 260.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-13400F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 1100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 615e) vs 20 (Core i5-13400F) — the Core i5-13400F offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-13400F).

FeatureAthlon II X4 615eCore i5-13400F
Socket
AM3
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 5.0+150%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+260%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
192 GB+1100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
20+25%
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Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 615e has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-13400F). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming, Core i5-13400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300; Core i5-13400F rivals Ryzen 5 7600.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615eCore i5-13400F
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Gaming
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 615e was priced at $186, while the Core i5-13400F came in at $196. On launch pricing ($186 vs $196), Athlon II X4 615e was $10 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 10.8 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-13400F — making the Core i5-13400F the 168.7% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615eCore i5-13400F
MSRP
$186-5%
$196
Performance per Dollar
10.8
127.7+1082%
Release Date
2010
2023

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