Athlon 64 FX-51 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Athlon 64 FX-51
Ryzen 7 3700X
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 FX-51 is positioned at rank #1133 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 FX-51
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-51 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($733) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (SledgeHammer (2003−2005) / 130 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-51 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+18995%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($733) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 FX-51 and Ryzen 7 3700X
Athlon 64 FX-51
The Athlon 64 FX-51 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 615 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 FX-51 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 7 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-51 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X. The Athlon 64 FX-51 uses the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-51 scores 615 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 189.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-51 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-51 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 8 / 16+700% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 130 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-95% |
| Architecture | SledgeHammer (2003−2005) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 615 | 22,430+3547% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 FX-51 uses the 940 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-51 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Ryzen 7 3700X supports -204% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X 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 FX-51) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 940 (Athlon 64 FX-51) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-51 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 940 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 4.0+264% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 128 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 FX-51 launched at $733 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($733 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $593 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 FX-51 delivers 0.8 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 197.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-51 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $733 | $329-55% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $733 | $140-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 0.8 | 160.2+19925% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2019 |
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