CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 245e
Pentium N3520
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 245e is positioned at rank 939 and the Pentium N3520 is on rank 1046, so the Athlon II X2 245e 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 245e
Performance Per Dollar Pentium N3520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 245e and Pentium N3520
Athlon II X2 245e
The Athlon II X2 245e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,141 points. Launch price was $80.
Pentium N3520
The Pentium N3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.17 GHz, with boost up to 2.42 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 245e packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3520 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245e versus 2.42 GHz on the Pentium N3520 — a 18% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245e (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.17 GHz). The Athlon II X2 245e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium N3520 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 245e scores 1,141 against the Pentium N3520's 1,144 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium N3520. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 245e vs 2 MB on the Pentium N3520.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+20% | 2.42 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+34% | 2.17 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,141 | 1,144 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 319 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 741 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 245e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium N3520 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 245e) / not specified (Pentium N3520). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 245e targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245e rivals Athlon II X2 270u.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 245e launched at $87 MSRP, while the Pentium N3520 debuted at $100. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Pentium N3520 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 245e delivers 76.1 pts/$ vs 114.4 pts/$ for the Pentium N3520 — making the Pentium N3520 the 40.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Pentium N3520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-13% | $100 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 76.1 | 114.4+50% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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