Athlon II N370 vs Core i7-9700K

CPU

GPU

Athlon II N370

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

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Athlon II N370 vs Core i7-9700K Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N370

2 / 2

1,085

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

+1226.9%

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 N370 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 N370 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 N370

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $325 less on MSRP ($60 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 (1,085 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($60 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: +745.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 106.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 18.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Athlon II N370 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
541.7% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$60 MSRP
❌9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than Athlon II N370?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 745.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1226.9% 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 745.1% 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 1226.9% 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 541.7% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 745.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 106.8% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 18.1 PassMark/$), 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 2010) 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 N370 vs Core i7-9700K Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N370

The Athlon II N370 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,085 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 N370 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 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II N370 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 64.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Athlon II N370 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N370 scores 1,085 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 172% lead for the Core i7-9700K.

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i7-9700K
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	8 / 8+300%
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz	4.9 GHz+96%
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	Champlain (2010−2011)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	1,085	14,397+1227%
Geekbench 6 Single	220	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	420	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N370 uses the S1 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 DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II N370 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports 150.1% 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 N370) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N370) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i7-9700K
Socket	S1	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR4-2666+150%
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: AMD-V (Athlon II N370) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Athlon II N370 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II N370 targets Legacy Laptop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N370 rivals Pentium P6100.

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i7-9700K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N370 was priced at $60, while the Core i7-9700K came in at $385. On launch pricing ($60 vs $385), Athlon II N370 was $325 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N370 delivers 18.1 pts/$ vs 37.4 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 69.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i7-9700K
MSRP	$60-84%	$385
Performance per Dollar	18.1	37.4+107%
Release Date	2010	2018

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