Ryzen 5 5600X vs Athlon 240GE
Ryzen 5 5600X
Athlon 240GE
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 240GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+290%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($110) |
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 Ryzen 5 5600X and Athlon 240GE
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Athlon 240GE
The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon 240GE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE — a 27.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Athlon 240GE uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Athlon 240GE's 4,561 — a 130.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 240GE.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+200% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+31% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+700% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 21,845+379% | 4,561 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 930 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,200 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 8 (Athlon 240GE) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+200% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Athlon 240GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop, Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Athlon 240GE debuted at $75. At current prices ($135 vs $110), the Athlon 240GE is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 161.8 pts/$ vs 41.5 pts/$ for the Athlon 240GE — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 118.4% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon 240GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $75-75% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $135 | $110-19% |
| Performance per Dollar | 161.8+290% | 41.5 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2018 |
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