A6-9500 vs Athlon II X3 450

CPU

GPU

A6-9500

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2017

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Athlon II X3 450

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2010

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A6-9500 vs Athlon II X3 450 Performance Spectrum

A6-9500

2 / 2

1,876

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X3 450

3 / 3

1,865

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A6-9500 vs Athlon II X3 450 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.

A6-9500 vs Athlon II X3 450: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-9500

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon R5, while Athlon II X3 450 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.6 vs 21.4 PassMark/$ ($101 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 450.

Athlon II X3 450

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $14 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $101 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.4 vs 18.6 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $101 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike A6-9500.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,865 vs 1,876).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A6-9500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9500 better than Athlon II X3 450?

Yes. A6-9500 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% 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, A6-9500 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.0% 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, A6-9500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A6-9500 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A6-9500 comes in 16.1% more expensive on MSRP at $101 MSRP versus $87 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 450 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 15.4% better value on paper (21.4 vs 18.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A6-9500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A6-9500 vs Athlon II X3 450 Technical Specifications

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

A6-9500

The A6-9500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,876 points. Launch price was $64.

Athlon II X3 450

The Athlon II X3 450 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.

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Processing Power

The A6-9500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 450 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A6-9500 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 — a 17.1% clock advantage for the A6-9500 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The A6-9500 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9500 scores 1,876 against the Athlon II X3 450's 1,865 — a 0.6% lead for the A6-9500. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	A6-9500	Athlon II X3 450
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+19%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1024 kB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-38%	45 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Rana (2009−2011)
PassMark	1,876	1,865
Geekbench 6 Single	—	380
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	980

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-9500 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A6-9500 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 450 — the A6-9500 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-9500 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A6-9500) vs 16 (Athlon II X3 450) — the Athlon II X3 450 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (A6-9500) and 760G,780G,790GX,880G,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 450).

Feature	A6-9500	Athlon II X3 450
Socket	AM4	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+80%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (A6-9500) / AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450). The A6-9500 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R5), while the Athlon II X3 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop.

Feature	A6-9500	Athlon II X3 450
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon R5	—
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A6-9500 was priced at $101, while the Athlon II X3 450 came in at $87. On launch pricing ($101 vs $87), Athlon II X3 450 was $14 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A6-9500 delivers 18.6 pts/$ vs 21.4 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 450 — making the Athlon II X3 450 the 14.3% better value option.

Feature	A6-9500	Athlon II X3 450
MSRP	$101	$87-14%
Performance per Dollar	18.6	21.4+15%
Release Date	2017	2010

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