Ryzen 5 5600X vs Athlon X4 840
Ryzen 5 5600X
Athlon X4 840
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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 X4 840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+21%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
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 X4 840
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 X4 840
The Athlon X4 840 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,331 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Athlon X4 840 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 840 — a 19% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Athlon X4 840 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Athlon X4 840's 3,331 — a 147.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+21% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+19% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-75% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 21,845+556% | 3,331 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Athlon X4 840 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 840 — the Ryzen 5 5600X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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 16 (Athlon X4 840) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 840).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) / not specified (Athlon X4 840). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 840 debuted at $102. At current prices ($135 vs $25), the Athlon X4 840 is $110 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 5600X delivers 161.8 pts/$ vs 133.2 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 840 — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 19.4% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Athlon X4 840 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $102-66% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $135 | $25-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 161.8+21% | 133.2 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2014 |
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