Athlon 64 3500+ vs Core i7-9700K
Athlon 64 3500+
Core i7-9700K
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. The Athlon 64 3500+ is positioned at rank #1102 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3500+
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (San Diego (2001−2005) / 130 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+26%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 Athlon 64 3500+ and Core i7-9700K
Athlon 64 3500+
The Athlon 64 3500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 570 points. Launch price was $59.
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 3500+ 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 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3500+ versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 76.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon 64 3500+ uses the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3500+ scores 570 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 184.8% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3500+ vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 8 / 8+700% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 4.9 GHz+123% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 130 nm | 14 nm-89% |
| Architecture | San Diego (2001−2005) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 570 | 14,397+2426% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 3500+ uses the 939 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 DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 3500+ versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports -204% 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 4 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3500+) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 939 (Athlon 64 3500+) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 128 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 3500+) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Athlon 64 3500+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 3500+ launched at $272 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($10 vs $200), the Athlon 64 3500+ is $190 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3500+ delivers 57.0 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 23.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3500+ | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $272-29% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-95% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 57.0 | 72.0+26% |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2018 |
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