Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium Dual Core T4400

AMD

Athlon X2 450

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2014
Similar parts
·······
VS
Intel

Pentium Dual Core T4400

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
Similar parts
·······

Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium Dual Core T4400 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 X2 450 vs Pentium Dual Core T4400 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 X2 450 vs Pentium Dual Core T4400: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon X2 450

2014

Why buy it

  • Costs $47 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • Delivers 79.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 12.0 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Pentium Dual Core T4400.

Trade-offs

  • 85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Pentium Dual Core T4400

2009

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,284 vs 1,295).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon X2 450.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X2 450 better than Pentium Dual Core T4400?
Yes. Athlon X2 450 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.9% better 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, Athlon X2 450 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.6% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 450 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon X2 450 is the better buy right now. Athlon X2 450 comes in $47 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 79.9% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 12.0 PassMark/$), 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 X2 450 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium Dual Core T4400 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon X2 450

The Athlon X2 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,295 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Pentium Dual Core T4400

The Pentium Dual Core T4400 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. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,284 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon X2 450 and Pentium Dual Core T4400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium Dual Core T4400 — a 55.7% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon X2 450 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Pentium Dual Core T4400 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 450 scores 1,295 against the Pentium Dual Core T4400's 1,284 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon X2 450.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium Dual Core T4400
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz+77%
2.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+59%
2.2 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB (total)
1 MB
Process
28 nm-38%
45 nm
Architecture
Kaveri (2014−2015)
NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark
1,295
1,284
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,500
Geekbench 6 Single
450
Geekbench 6 Multi
800
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 450 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Dual Core T4400 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium Dual Core T4400
Socket
FM2+
P
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+173%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X2 450) / not specified (Pentium Dual Core T4400). Primary use case: Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium Dual Core T4400
Integrated GPU
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Basic Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X2 450 was priced at $60, while the Pentium Dual Core T4400 came in at $107. On launch pricing ($60 vs $107), Athlon X2 450 was $47 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 450 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 12.0 pts/$ for the Pentium Dual Core T4400 — making the Athlon X2 450 the 57.1% better value option.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium Dual Core T4400
MSRP
$60-44%
$107
Performance per Dollar
21.6+80%
12.0
Release Date
2014
2009

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.