A6-7470K vs Athlon II M320

AMD

A6-7470K

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 4 GHz2016
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II M320

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.1 GHz2009
Similar parts
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A6-7470K vs Athlon II M320 Performance Spectrum

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.

A6-7470K vs Athlon II M320 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A6-7470K vs Athlon II M320: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A6-7470K

2016

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R5 Graphics, while Athlon II M320 needs a discrete GPU.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Athlon II M320.

Trade-offs

  • 6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Athlon II M320

2009

Why buy it

  • Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,795 vs 1,799).
  • Launch MSRP is still $75 MSRP, while A6-7470K mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • No integrated graphics, while A6-7470K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike A6-7470K.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-7470K better than Athlon II M320?
Yes. A6-7470K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, A6-7470K is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A6-7470K is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A6-7470K is still the much better call for a fresh build. A6-7470K comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $75 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II M320 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (23.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1g3.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A6-7470K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A6-7470K vs Athlon II M320 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A6-7470K

The A6-7470K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,799 points. Launch price was $70.

AMD

Athlon II M320

The Athlon II M320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,795 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the A6-7470K and Athlon II M320 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the A6-7470K versus 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 — a 62.3% clock advantage for the A6-7470K. The A6-7470K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II M320 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A6-7470K scores 1,799 against the Athlon II M320's 1,795 — a 0.2% lead for the A6-7470K.

FeatureA6-7470KAthlon II M320
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
4 GHz+90%
2.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.7 GHz
L2 Cache
1024 kB
1 MB
Process
28 nm-38%
45 nm
Architecture
Godaveri (2014−2016)
Caspian (2009)
PassMark
1,799
1,795
Geekbench 6 Single
188
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,955
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-7470K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II M320 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2133 on the A6-7470K versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M320 — the A6-7470K supports 166.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-7470K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A6-7470K) vs 0 (Athlon II M320) — the A6-7470K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FM2+ (A6-7470K) and Socket S1g3 (Athlon II M320).

FeatureA6-7470KAthlon II M320
Socket
FM2+
S1g3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
2133+167%
DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB+300%
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
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Advanced Features

Only the A6-7470K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (A6-7470K) vs AMD-V (Athlon II M320). The A6-7470K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Athlon II M320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: A6-7470K rivals Pentium G4400; Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.

FeatureA6-7470KAthlon II M320
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon R5 Graphics
None
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
AMD-V
Target Use
Legacy Laptop