Athlon 64 3300+
Core i7-9700K
Athlon 64 3300+ vs Core i7-9700K 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.
Athlon 64 3300+ vs Core i7-9700K 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Athlon 64 3300+ vs Core i7-9700K: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
Athlon 64 3300+
2004Why buy it
- ✅Costs $185 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Core i7-9700K.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (522 vs 14,397).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 2.6 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Core i7-9700K
2018Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +1634.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Delivers 1332.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 2.6 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Athlon 64 3300+ needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌92.5% HIGHER MSRP$385 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 64 3300+.
Quick Answers
So, is Core i7-9700K better than Athlon 64 3300+?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon 64 3300+ vs Core i7-9700K Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Athlon 64 3300+
The Athlon 64 3300+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 522 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 3300+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 7 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3300+ versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 68.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon 64 3300+ uses the NewCastle (2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3300+ scores 522 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 186% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3300+ vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3300+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 8 / 8+700% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz+104% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 130 nm | 14 nm-89% |
| Architecture | NewCastle (2004) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 522 | 14,397+2658% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 150 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 150 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 3300+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR1-400 on the Athlon 64 3300+ versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports 566.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-9700K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 3 GB — 4166.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Athlon 64 3300+) vs 2 (Core i7-9700K). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3300+) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: VIA K8T800,nForce3 (Athlon 64 3300+) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Athlon 64 3300+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 754 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR1-400 | DDR4-2666+567% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 3 GB | 128 GB+4167% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | No | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: None (Athlon 64 3300+) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Athlon 64 3300+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 64 3300+ targets Retro Desktop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3300+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Retro Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Athlon 64 3300+ was priced at $200, while the Core i7-9700K came in at $385. On launch pricing ($200 vs $385), Athlon 64 3300+ was $185 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3300+ delivers 2.6 pts/$ vs 37.4 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 173.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3300+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200-48% | $385 |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.6 | 37.4+1338% |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2018 |
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