Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i5-450M
Athlon Neo MV-40
Core i5-450M
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon Neo MV-40 is positioned at rank 1020 and the Core i5-450M is on rank 10, so the Core i5-450M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Neo MV-40
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-450M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Huron (2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+525%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) |
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 Neo MV-40 and Core i5-450M
Athlon Neo MV-40
The Athlon Neo MV-40 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Huron (2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: ASB1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,274 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-450M
The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.
Processing Power
The Athlon Neo MV-40 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i5-450M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-450M has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M — a 49.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-450M. The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the Huron (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-450M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Neo MV-40 scores 1,274 against the Core i5-450M's 1,264 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon Neo MV-40.
| Feature | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.66 GHz+66% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Huron (2009) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,274 | 1,264 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the ASB1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus 1066 on the Core i5-450M — the Core i5-450M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-450M supports up to 8 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon Neo MV-40) vs 16 (Core i5-450M) — the Core i5-450M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB1 (Athlon Neo MV-40) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M).
| Feature | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | ASB1 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 1066+53200% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+52428700% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Neo MV-40) / true (Core i5-450M). The Core i5-450M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon Neo MV-40 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon Neo MV-40 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Core i5-450M debuted at $32. At current prices ($5 vs $31), the Athlon Neo MV-40 is $26 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon Neo MV-40 delivers 254.8 pts/$ vs 40.8 pts/$ for the Core i5-450M — making the Athlon Neo MV-40 the 144.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon Neo MV-40 | Core i5-450M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $32-68% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-84% | $31 |
| Performance per Dollar | 254.8+525% | 40.8 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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