Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Pentium N3700

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Pentium N3700 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

2 / 2

1,255

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium N3700

4 / 4

1,248

0.0%

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 X2 4200+ vs Pentium N3700 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.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Pentium N3700: 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 X2 4200+

2006

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $581 MSRP, while Pentium N3700 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1383.3% higher power demand at 89W vs 6W.

Pentium N3700

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 89W, a 83W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,248 vs 1,255).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium N3700 better than Athlon 64 X2 4200+?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium N3700 is ahead with 9.1% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium N3700 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium N3700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $581 MSRP, and it still gives you 9.1% higher max boost clock. Athlon 64 X2 4200+ only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2006 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (2.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on 939.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium N3700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Pentium N3700 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Dezembro 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 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: 1,255 points. Launch price was $309.

Pentium N3700

The Pentium N3700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $161.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3700 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium N3700 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Pentium N3700. The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Pentium N3700 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ scores 1,255 against the Pentium N3700's 1,248 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 4200+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Pentium N3700
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.4 GHz+9%
Base Clock	—	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	2 MB+300%
Process	90 nm	14 nm-84%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Braswell (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,255	1,248

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium N3700 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.