Athlon II M320 vs Core i7-9700K
Athlon II M320
Core i7-9700K
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. The Athlon II M320 is positioned at rank #809 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M320
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+66%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 Core i7-9700K
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Athlon II M320 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 2.1 GHz on the Athlon II M320 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 80% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon II M320 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 M320 scores 1,795 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 155.7% lead for the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 8 / 8+300% |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 4.9 GHz+133% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Caspian (2009) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,795 | 14,397+702% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 188 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,955 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II M320 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 DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M320 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports 66.7% 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 — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M320) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1g3 (Athlon II M320) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g3 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR4-2666+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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: AMD-V (Athlon II M320) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Athlon II M320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II M320 targets Legacy Laptop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M320 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II M320 launched at $75 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($15 vs $200), the Athlon II M320 is $185 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M320 delivers 119.7 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Athlon II M320 the 49.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II M320 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-81% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-93% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 119.7+66% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2018 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II M320 and Core i7-9700K
