Athlon II X2 215 vs Core i3-3229Y
Athlon II X2 215
Core i3-3229Y
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 X2 215 is positioned at rank 739 and the Core i3-3229Y is on rank 437, so the Core i3-3229Y 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 X2 215
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3229Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 215 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 215 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X2 215 and Core i3-3229Y
Athlon II X2 215
The Athlon II X2 215 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,011 points. Launch price was $45.
Core i3-3229Y
The Core i3-3229Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,014 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 215 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3229Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 215 versus 1.4 GHz on the Core i3-3229Y — a 63.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 215 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Athlon II X2 215 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3229Y uses Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 215 scores 1,011 against the Core i3-3229Y's 1,014 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-3229Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 274 vs 350, a 24.4% lead for the Core i3-3229Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 674 vs 657 (2.6% advantage for the Athlon II X2 215). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 215 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3229Y.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 215 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+93% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+93% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) |
| PassMark | 1,011 | 1,014 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 274 | 350+28% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 674+3% | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 215 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3229Y uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 215 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-3229Y — the Athlon II X2 215 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3229Y supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 215) vs 16 (Core i3-3229Y) — the Core i3-3229Y offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 215) and HM77,UM77 (Core i3-3229Y).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 215 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 32 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 215) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3229Y). The Core i3-3229Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X2 215 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 215 targets Budget, Core i3-3229Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 215 rivals Pentium E5400; Core i3-3229Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050GE.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 215 | Core i3-3229Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
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