CPU
GPU
Athlon Gold 7220U
FX-8320E
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 Gold 7220U is positioned at rank 655 and the FX-8320E is on rank 555, so the FX-8320E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Gold 7220U
Performance Per Dollar FX-8320E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | FX-8320E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) / 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Vishera (2012−2015) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Gold 7220U | FX-8320E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 Gold 7220U and FX-8320E
Athlon Gold 7220U
The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 points. Launch price was $149.
FX-8320E
The FX-8320E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,960 points. Launch price was $147.
Processing Power
The Athlon Gold 7220U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the FX-8320E offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8320E has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus 4 GHz on the FX-8320E — a 7.8% clock advantage for the FX-8320E (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the FX-8320E uses Vishera (2012−2015) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 7220U scores 4,904 against the FX-8320E's 4,960 — a 1.1% lead for the FX-8320E.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | FX-8320E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 8 / 8+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 8192 kB+1500% |
| Process | 6 nm-81% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) | Vishera (2012−2015) |
| PassMark | 4,904 | 4,960+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 439 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,734 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the FX-8320E uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus DDR3-1866 on the FX-8320E — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 199.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The FX-8320E supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 0 (FX-8320E) — the Athlon Gold 7220U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U) and AMD 990FX,AMD 970 (FX-8320E).
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | FX-8320E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT6 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 5500+183233% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 32 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Only the FX-8320E has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs AMD-V (FX-8320E). The Athlon Gold 7220U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the FX-8320E requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4.
| Feature | Athlon Gold 7220U | FX-8320E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon Gold 7220U and FX-8320E
