Athlon II M320 vs Athlon II X3 445

Athlon II M320 vs Athlon II X3 445 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II M320

2 / 2

1,795

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X3 445

3 / 3

1,807

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 M320 vs Athlon II X3 445 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 M320 vs Athlon II X3 445: 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 M320

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $12 less on MSRP ($75 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 23.9 vs 20.8 PassMark/$ ($75 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 95W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,795 vs 1,807).

Athlon II X3 445

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.8 vs 23.9 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).
❌9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 445 better than Athlon II M320?

Yes. Athlon II X3 445 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% 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, Athlon II X3 445 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% 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, Athlon II X3 445 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 445 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II X3 445 comes in 16.0% more expensive on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $75 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II M320 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 15.2% better value on paper (23.9 vs 20.8 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1g3.

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

Athlon II X3 445 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 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 M320 vs Athlon II X3 445 Technical Specifications

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

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 II X3 445

The Athlon II X3 445 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,807 points. Launch price was $91.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II M320 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 445 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 445 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 — a 38.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 445. The Athlon II M320 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X3 445 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M320 scores 1,795 against the Athlon II X3 445's 1,807 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X3 445.

Feature	Athlon II M320	Athlon II X3 445
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	3.1 GHz+48%
Base Clock	—	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Rana (2009−2011)
PassMark	1,795	1,807
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 II X3 445 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M320 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 445 — the Athlon II X3 445 supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% 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 AM3 (Athlon II X3 445).

Feature	Athlon II M320	Athlon II X3 445
Socket	S1g3	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3-1333+67%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II M320) / not specified (Athlon II X3 445). Primary use case: Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.

Feature	Athlon II M320	Athlon II X3 445
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II M320 was priced at $75, while the Athlon II X3 445 came in at $87. On launch pricing ($75 vs $87), Athlon II M320 was $12 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M320 delivers 23.9 pts/$ vs 20.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 445 — making the Athlon II M320 the 14.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II M320	Athlon II X3 445
MSRP	$75-14%	$87
Performance per Dollar	23.9+15%	20.8
Release Date	2009	2010

Search Athlon II M320 on Amazon

Search Athlon II X3 445 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.