A4-3420 vs Athlon II X2 235e
A4-3420
Athlon II X2 235e
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 A4-3420 is positioned at rank 875 and the Athlon II X2 235e is on rank 888, so the A4-3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-3420
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 235e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+102%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 A4-3420 and Athlon II X2 235e
A4-3420
The A4-3420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,067 points. Launch price was $50.
Athlon II X2 235e
The Athlon II X2 235e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,079 points. Launch price was $84.
Processing Power
Both the A4-3420 and Athlon II X2 235e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e — a 3.6% clock advantage for the A4-3420 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The A4-3420 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 235e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-3420 scores 1,067 against the Athlon II X2 235e's 1,079 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 235e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 240, a 22.2% lead for the A4-3420 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 450 (10.5% advantage for the A4-3420). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,067 | 1,079+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300+25% | 240 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500+11% | 450 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-3420 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 235e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The A4-3420 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-3420) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 235e) — the A4-3420 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X (A4-3420) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e).
| Feature | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A4-3420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6410D), while the Athlon II X2 235e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop, Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630; Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300.
| Feature | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6410D | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Entry Desktop | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The A4-3420 launched at $65 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 235e debuted at $69. At current prices ($30 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 235e is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A4-3420 delivers 35.6 pts/$ vs 71.9 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 235e — making the Athlon II X2 235e the 67.7% better value option.
| Feature | A4-3420 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $65-6% | $69 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $15-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 35.6 | 71.9+102% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2009 |
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