Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs A9-9420e
Athlon 64 X2 3800+
A9-9420e
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 Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is positioned at rank 1094 and the A9-9420e is on rank 833, so the A9-9420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 3800+ | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Manchester (2005−2006) / 90 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 3800+ | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X2 3800+ and A9-9420e
Athlon 64 X2 3800+
The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $149.
A9-9420e
The A9-9420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ and A9-9420e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus 2.5 GHz on the A9-9420e — a 22.2% clock advantage for the A9-9420e. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the A9-9420e uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ scores 1,095 against the A9-9420e's 1,101 — a 0.5% lead for the A9-9420e.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 3800+ | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 90 nm | 28 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Manchester (2005−2006) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,095 | 1,101 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A9-9420e uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus 2133 on the A9-9420e — the A9-9420e supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) vs 1 (A9-9420e). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) vs 4 (A9-9420e) — the A9-9420e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) and FT4,FP4 (A9-9420e).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 3800+ | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | 2133+106550% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) / true (A9-9420e). The A9-9420e includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A9-9420e rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 3800+ | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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