A8-6500T vs Athlon II X3 460

A8-6500T vs Athlon II X3 460 Performance Spectrum

A8-6500T

4 / 4

1,983

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

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.

A8-6500T vs Athlon II X3 460 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.

A8-6500T vs Athlon II X3 460: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A8-6500T

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 8550D, while Athlon II X3 460 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Athlon II X3 460

2011

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,965 vs 1,983).
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while A8-6500T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A8-6500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A8-6500T better than Athlon II X3 460?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 460 is ahead with a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A8-6500T pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A8-6500T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

A8-6500T is still the much better call for a fresh build. A8-6500T comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $87 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. Athlon II X3 460 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

A8-6500T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-6500T vs Athlon II X3 460 Technical Specifications

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

A8-6500T

The A8-6500T 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,983 points. Launch price was $90.

Athlon II X3 460

The Athlon II X3 460 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 1,965 points. Launch price was $50.

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Processing Power

The A8-6500T packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 460 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the A8-6500T has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the A8-6500T versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The A8-6500T uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A8-6500T scores 1,983 against the Athlon II X3 460's 1,965 — a 0.9% lead for the A8-6500T.

Feature	A8-6500T	Athlon II X3 460
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+33%	3 / 3
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+62%
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	1,983	1,965
Geekbench 6 Single	—	384
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	944

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Memory & Platform

The A8-6500T uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1866 on the A8-6500T versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 460 — the A8-6500T supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A8-6500T supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A8-6500T) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 460) — the A8-6500T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FM2 (A8-6500T) and 760G,770,785G,790FX,870,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 460).

Feature	A8-6500T	Athlon II X3 460
Socket	FM2	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1866+40%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+300%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (A8-6500T) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460). The A8-6500T includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8550D), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A8-6500T rivals Core i3-3220T.