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Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium U5400

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Athlon X2 450

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2014
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium U5400

2 Cores2 Thrd18 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2010
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Buy on Amazon

Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium U5400 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 450
2 / 2
1,295
+0.7%
brand logoAthlon 64 FX-57
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 TK-42
brand logoAthlon II X2 240e
brand logoAthlon II X2 245e
brand logoRyzen 7 PRO 6850U
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
Pentium U5400
2 / 2
1,286
0.0%
brand logoAtom D2550
brand logoPentium T3400
brand logoCore i5-540UM
brand logoPentium N3520
brand logoCore i9-13900TE
brand logoCore Ultra 5 235
brand logoXeon W-3375
brand logoXeon w9-3575X

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 U5400 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low29 FPS
medium22 FPS
high11 FPS
ultra6 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
Athlon X2 450
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
1080P
Pentium U5400
low32 FPS
medium32 FPS
high32 FPS
ultra32 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

Athlon X2 450 vs Pentium U5400: 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

  • ✅+164.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • ✅Costs $229 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $289 MSRP).
  • ✅Delivers 385.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.6 vs 4.4 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $289 MSRP).
  • ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Pentium U5400.

Trade-offs

  • ❌261.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 18W.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium U5400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium U5400

2010

Why buy it

  • ✅Draws 18W instead of 65W, a 47W reduction.
  • ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake), while Athlon X2 450 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (170 vs 450).
  • ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (300 vs 800).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 4.4 vs 21.6 PassMark/$ ($289 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon X2 450.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X2 450 better than Pentium U5400?
Yes. Athlon X2 450 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 166.7% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.7% higher 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 2.7% more average FPS across 50 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 166.7% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 $229 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $289 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 385.0% better value on MSRP (21.6 vs 4.4 PassMark/$), 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 X2 450 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) 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 U5400 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 U5400

The Pentium U5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,286 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon X2 450 and Pentium U5400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium U5400 — a 105.9% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Athlon X2 450 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Pentium U5400 uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 450 scores 1,295 against the Pentium U5400's 1,286 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X2 450. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 450 vs 170, a 90.3% lead for the Athlon X2 450 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 800 vs 300 (90.9% advantage for the Athlon X2 450).

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium U5400
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.9 GHz+225%
1.2 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+192%
1.2 GHz
L3 Cache
—
3 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB (total)
256K (per core)+25500%
Process
28 nm-13%
32 nm
Architecture
Kaveri (2014−2015)
Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark
1,295
1,286
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,500
—
Geekbench 6 Single
450+165%
170
Geekbench 6 Multi
800+167%
300
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 450 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium U5400 uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X2 450 versus DDR3-800 on the Pentium U5400 — the Athlon X2 450 supports 133.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X2 450 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A88X,A78,A68H (Athlon X2 450) and HM55 (Pentium U5400).

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium U5400
Socket
FM2+
BGA1288
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866+133%
DDR3-800
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB+100%
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X2 450) vs VT-x (Pentium U5400). The Pentium U5400 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon X2 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop, Pentium U5400 targets Legacy Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium U5400
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
None
Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x
Target Use
Basic Desktop
Legacy Budget Laptop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X2 450 was priced at $60, while the Pentium U5400 came in at $289. On launch pricing ($60 vs $289), Athlon X2 450 was $229 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 450 delivers 21.6 pts/$ vs 4.4 pts/$ for the Pentium U5400 — making the Athlon X2 450 the 131.6% better value option.

FeatureAthlon X2 450Pentium U5400
MSRP
$60-79%
$289
Performance per Dollar
21.6+391%
4.4
Release Date
2014
2010
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