Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5-2403

Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5-2403 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 645

4 / 4

2,375

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5-2403

4 / 8

2,367

0.0%

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 645 vs Xeon E5-2403 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 645 vs Xeon E5-2403: 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 645

2010

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-2403.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $126 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2403 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.

Xeon E5-2403

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 80W instead of 95W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,367 vs 2,375).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 645.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 645 better than Xeon E5-2403?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2403 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X4 645 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 645 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.2% more average FPS across 34 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 645 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 645 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 645 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $126 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E5-2403 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5-2403 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 645

The Athlon II X4 645 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.

Xeon E5-2403

The Xeon E5-2403 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $230.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 645 and Xeon E5-2403 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 — a 53.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 645 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 645 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5-2403 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 645 scores 2,375 against the Xeon E5-2403's 2,367 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 645. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2403.

Feature	Athlon II X4 645	Xeon E5-2403
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz+72%	1.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+72%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	10240 kB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge-EN (2012)
PassMark	2,375	2,367
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,374	—
Geekbench 6 Single	399	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,374	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 645 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2403 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.