Athlon II X4 615e vs Pentium Dual Core T3400

AMD

Athlon II X4 615e

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium Dual Core T3400

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.16 GHz2008
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 615e vs Pentium Dual Core T3400 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 Pentium Dual Core T3400 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 Pentium Dual Core T3400: 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

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Dual Core T3400.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,018 vs 2,026).
  • Launch MSRP is still $186 MSRP, while Pentium Dual Core T3400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 4400% higher power demand at 45W vs 1W.

Pentium Dual Core T3400

2008

Why buy it

  • +0.4% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 1W instead of 45W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 615e better than Pentium Dual Core T3400?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 615e is ahead with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Dual Core T3400 pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Dual Core T3400 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X4 615e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 615e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $186 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Pentium Dual Core T3400 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.4% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (10.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X4 615e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 615e vs Pentium Dual Core T3400 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

Pentium Dual Core T3400

The Pentium Dual Core T3400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.16 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,026 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Dual Core T3400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 615e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 2.16 GHz on the Pentium Dual Core T3400 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 615e. The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Dual Core T3400 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Pentium Dual Core T3400's 2,026 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium Dual Core T3400.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615ePentium Dual Core T3400
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.5 GHz+16%
2.16 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
1 MB+100%
Process
45 nm-31%
65 nm
Architecture
Propus (2009−2011)
NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark
2,018
2,026
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,161
Geekbench 6 Single
331
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,161
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Dual Core T3400 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615ePentium Dual Core T3400
Socket
AM3
PGA478
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0+82%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) / not specified (Pentium Dual Core T3400). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615ePentium Dual Core T3400
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 615e was priced at $186, while the Pentium Dual Core T3400 came in at $0. On launch pricing ($186 vs $0), Pentium Dual Core T3400 was $186 cheaper.

FeatureAthlon II X4 615ePentium Dual Core T3400
MSRP
$186
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
10.8
Release Date
2010
2008

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