Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 220

2 / 2

1,046

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen 5 3600

6 / 12

17,685

+1590.7%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 3600 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 X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 3600: 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 X2 220

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $167 less on MSRP ($32 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 1,898).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.7 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($32 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +687.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 171.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
521.9% HIGHER MSRP
$199 MSRPvs$32 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Athlon II X2 220?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 687.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 279.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 1590.7% higher 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, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 687.7% 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, Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 279.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in 521.9% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 687.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 171.9% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 32.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 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 X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 220

The Athlon II X2 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X2 220 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 40% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 220 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 177.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 285 vs 1,295, a 127.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 1,898 (116.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 220 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz	4.2 GHz+50%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	3.6 GHz+29%
L3 Cache	0 kB	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB	512K (per core)
Process	45 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-84%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	1,046	17,685+1591%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	285	1,295+354%
Geekbench 6 Multi	500	1,898+280%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 220 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	AM3	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	1333	DDR4-3200+140%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	24

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 220) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	Yes
Target Use	—	Gaming/Budget Workstation

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 220 was priced at $32, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($32 vs $199), Athlon II X2 220 was $167 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 220 delivers 32.7 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 92.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP	$32-84%	$199
Performance per Dollar	32.7	88.9+172%
Release Date	2010	2019

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