Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5440

AMD

Athlon II X4 645

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E5440

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 0.83 GHz2007
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5440 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 645 vs Xeon E5440 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 E5440: 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

  • Costs $564 less on MSRP ($126 MSRP vs $690 MSRP).
  • Delivers 449.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.8 vs 3.4 PassMark/$ ($126 MSRP vs $690 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5440.

Trade-offs

  • 18.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 80W.

Xeon E5440

2007

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,367 vs 2,375).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.4 vs 18.8 PassMark/$ ($690 MSRP vs $126 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 645.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 645 better than Xeon E5440?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5440 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 0.1% 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 $564 cheaper on MSRP at $126 MSRP versus $690 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 449.5% better value on MSRP (18.8 vs 3.4 PassMark/$), 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 645 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2007) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 645 vs Xeon E5440 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

Xeon E5440

The Xeon E5440 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 0.83 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $690.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 645 and Xeon E5440 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 versus 0.83 GHz on the Xeon E5440 — a 115.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 645 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.83 GHz). The Athlon II X4 645 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Xeon E5440 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 645 scores 2,375 against the Xeon E5440's 2,367 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 645. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645 vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5440.

FeatureAthlon II X4 645Xeon E5440
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.1 GHz+273%
0.83 GHz
Base Clock
3.1 GHz+10%
2.83 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
12 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
6 MB (total)+1100%
Process
45 nm
45 nm
Architecture
Propus (2009−2011)
Harpertown (2007−2008)
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 E5440 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X4 645Xeon E5440
Socket
AM3
LGA771
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Athlon II X4 645) / not specified (Xeon E5440). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop.

FeatureAthlon II X4 645Xeon E5440
Integrated GPU
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
Yes
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 645 was priced at $126, while the Xeon E5440 came in at $690. On launch pricing ($126 vs $690), Athlon II X4 645 was $564 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 645 delivers 18.8 pts/$ vs 3.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5440 — making the Athlon II X4 645 the 138.4% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X4 645Xeon E5440
MSRP
$126-82%
$690
Performance per Dollar
18.8+453%
3.4
Release Date
2010
2007

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