Athlon II X2 280 vs Core i3-L13G4
Athlon II X2 280
Core i3-L13G4
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 280 is positioned at rank 638 and the Core i3-L13G4 is on rank 1210, so the Athlon II X2 280 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 280
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-L13G4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i3-L13G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Lakefield (2020) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i3-L13G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 280 and Core i3-L13G4
Athlon II X2 280
The Athlon II X2 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,355 points. Launch price was $100.
Core i3-L13G4
The Core i3-L13G4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Lakefield (2020) architecture. It features 5 cores and 5 threads. Base frequency is 0.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FC-CSP1016. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,349 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 280 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i3-L13G4 offers 5 cores / 5 threads — the Core i3-L13G4 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 280 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-L13G4 — a 25% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 280 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 0.8 GHz). The Athlon II X2 280 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-L13G4 uses Lakefield (2020) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 280 scores 1,355 against the Core i3-L13G4's 1,349 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X2 280. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 280 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-L13G4.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i3-L13G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 5 / 5+150% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+350% | 0.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 10 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Lakefield (2020) |
| PassMark | 1,355 | 1,349 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 290 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 280 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-L13G4 uses FC-CSP1016 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 280 versus LPDDR4x-4267 on the Core i3-L13G4 — the Core i3-L13G4 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 280 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II X2 280) vs 4 (Core i3-L13G4). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 280) vs 8 (Core i3-L13G4) — the Core i3-L13G4 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i3-L13G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FC-CSP1016 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | LPDDR4x-4267+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 280) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-L13G4). The Core i3-L13G4 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Athlon II X2 280 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 280 targets Legacy Desktop, Core i3-L13G4 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 280 rivals Pentium E6700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | Core i3-L13G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Mobile |
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