CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 255
A4-9120
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 255 is positioned at rank 793 and the A4-9120 is on rank 871, so the Athlon II X2 255 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 255
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 255 | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 255 | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 255 and A4-9120
Athlon II X2 255
The Athlon II X2 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $60.
A4-9120
The A4-9120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 255 and A4-9120 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X2 255 versus 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 — a 21.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 255 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon II X2 255 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the A4-9120 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 255 scores 1,210 against the A4-9120's 1,222 — a 1% lead for the A4-9120. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 265 vs 350, a 27.6% lead for the A4-9120 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+24% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+41% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,222 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 265 | 350+32% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 255 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-9120 uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 255 versus DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 — the A4-9120 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 255 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II X2 255) vs 1 (A4-9120). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 255) vs 8 (A4-9120) — the A4-9120 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A4-9120 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3), while the Athlon II X2 255 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 255 targets Legacy Desktop, A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 255 rivals Pentium E5700; A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Entry Laptop |
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