A10-6790B vs Athlon II X3 420e
A10-6790B
Athlon II X3 420e
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 A10-6790B is positioned at rank 947 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Athlon II X3 420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A10-6790B
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+236%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($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 A10-6790B and Athlon II X3 420e
A10-6790B
The A10-6790B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,546 points. Launch price was $130.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The A10-6790B packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the A10-6790B has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the A10-6790B versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 49.3% clock advantage for the A10-6790B (base: 4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The A10-6790B uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A10-6790B scores 1,546 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e.
| Feature | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+33% | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+65% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+54% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Richland (2013−2014) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,546 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 880 |
Memory & Platform
The A10-6790B uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The A10-6790B supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A78,A88X (A10-6790B) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A10-6790B includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8670D), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-6790B targets Office, Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A10-6790B rivals Core i3-4330; Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 8670D | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Office | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The A10-6790B launched at $122 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($50 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 420e is $35 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A10-6790B delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 108.2% better value option.
| Feature | A10-6790B | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $122 | $107-12% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $15-70% |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.9 | 103.8+236% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2010 |
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