Pentium G870 vs Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Pentium G870
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
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 Pentium G870 is positioned at rank 836 and the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ is on rank 1091, so the Pentium G870 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G870
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+412%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($78) |
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 Pentium G870 and Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Pentium G870
The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
The Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 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: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,585 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G870 and Athlon 64 X2 5400+ share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ — a 10.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G870. The Pentium G870 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G870 scores 1,562 against the Athlon 64 X2 5400+'s 1,585 — a 1.5% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5400+. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G870 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5400+.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+11% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-64% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,562 | 1,585+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G870 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G870 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ debuted at $485. At current prices ($15 vs $78), the Pentium G870 is $63 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G870 delivers 104.1 pts/$ vs 20.3 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 X2 5400+ — making the Pentium G870 the 134.7% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon 64 X2 5400+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-82% | $485 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-81% | $78 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.1+413% | 20.3 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2006 |
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