
Core i3-4010U vs Athlon 64 X2 5600+

Core i3-4010U

Athlon 64 X2 5600+
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 Core i3-4010U is positioned at rank 179 and the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is on rank 1088, so the Core i3-4010U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4010U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4010U | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4010U | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Core i3-4010U and Athlon 64 X2 5600+

Core i3-4010U
The Core i3-4010U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,660 points. Launch price was $281.

Athlon 64 X2 5600+
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,665 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4010U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon 64 X2 5600+'s 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Core i3-4010U versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ — a 52.2% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The Core i3-4010U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4010U scores 1,660 against the Athlon 64 X2 5600+'s 1,665 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4010U vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+71% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-76% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,660 | 1,665 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4010U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4010U versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ — the Core i3-4010U supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-4010U) vs 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) — the Core i3-4010U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4010U) / not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5600+). The Core i3-4010U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4010U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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