Athlon II M320 vs Athlon 64 FX-72
Athlon II M320
Athlon 64 FX-72
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 II M320 is positioned at rank 809 and the Athlon 64 FX-72 is on rank 1100, so the Athlon II M320 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M320
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-72
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+167%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 II M320 and Athlon 64 FX-72
Athlon II M320
The Athlon II M320 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: 2.1 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: 1,795 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon 64 FX-72
The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II M320 and Athlon 64 FX-72 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-72. The Athlon II M320 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-72 uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M320 scores 1,795 against the Athlon 64 FX-72's 1,794 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II M320.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.8 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm-50% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Caspian (2009) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,795 | 1,794 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 188 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,955 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II M320 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 FX-72 uses F (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-800 memory speed. The Athlon 64 FX-72 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1g3 (Athlon II M320) and AMD F (1207) (Athlon 64 FX-72).
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g3 | F |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II M320) / not specified (Athlon 64 FX-72). Primary use case: Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II M320 launched at $75 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 FX-72 debuted at $799. At current prices ($15 vs $40), the Athlon II M320 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M320 delivers 119.7 pts/$ vs 44.9 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 FX-72 — making the Athlon II M320 the 91% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-91% | $799 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-63% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 119.7+167% | 44.9 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2006 |
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