Athlon II M300 vs Core i7-9700K

CPU

GPU

Athlon II M300

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

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Athlon II M300 vs Core i7-9700K Performance Spectrum

Athlon II M300

2 / 2

1,700

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

+746.9%

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 II M300 vs Core i7-9700K 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 II M300 vs Core i7-9700K: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon II M300

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $285 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 95W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,700 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.0 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +455.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 120.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 17.0 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Athlon II M300 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
285% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$100 MSRP
❌9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Athlon II M300?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 455.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 746.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-9700K is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 455.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-9700K is the stronger fit. You are getting 746.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-9700K is the better buy right now. Core i7-9700K comes in 285.0% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 455.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 120.0% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 17.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i7-9700K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II M300 vs Core i7-9700K Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II M300

The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II M300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 84.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon II M300 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M300 scores 1,700 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 157.8% lead for the Core i7-9700K.

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i7-9700K
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	8 / 8+300%
Boost Clock	2 GHz	4.9 GHz+145%
Base Clock	—	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	—	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	1,700	14,397+747%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M300 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Athlon II M300 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports 233.3% 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 8 GB — 1500% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M300) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g3 (Athlon II M300) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i7-9700K
Socket	S1g3	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	800	DDR4-2666+233%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	128 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II M300) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Athlon II M300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i7-9700K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II M300 was priced at $100, while the Core i7-9700K came in at $385. On launch pricing ($100 vs $385), Athlon II M300 was $285 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M300 delivers 17.0 pts/$ vs 37.4 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 75% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i7-9700K
MSRP	$100-74%	$385
Performance per Dollar	17.0	37.4+120%
Release Date	2009	2018

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