A9-9410 vs Athlon II X3 420e
A9-9410
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 A9-9410 is positioned at rank 1071 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 A9-9410
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+67%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 A9-9410 and Athlon II X3 420e
A9-9410
The A9-9410 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,550 points. Launch price was $69.
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 A9-9410 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the A9-9410 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 29.5% clock advantage for the A9-9410 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The A9-9410 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9410 scores 1,550 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 314, a 10.8% lead for the A9-9410 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 650 vs 880 (30.1% advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+35% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+12% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,550 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350+11% | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | 880+35% |
Memory & Platform
The A9-9410 uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A9-9410 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e — the A9-9410 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 420e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A9-9410) vs 2 (Athlon II X3 420e). PCIe lanes: 8 (A9-9410) vs 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) — the Athlon II X3 420e offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A9-9410) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP4 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A9-9410 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A9-9410 targets Budget Laptop, Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A9-9410 rivals Pentium N4200; Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R5 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The A9-9410 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($25 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 420e is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A9-9410 delivers 62.0 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 50.4% better value option.
| Feature | A9-9410 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $107-29% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $15-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.0 | 103.8+67% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2010 |
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