CPU
GPU
Athlon II X3 400e
Athlon II X2 265
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 X3 400e is positioned at rank 938 and the Athlon II X2 265 is on rank 884, so the Athlon II X2 265 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 X3 400e
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 265
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 X3 400e and Athlon II X2 265
Athlon II X3 400e
The Athlon II X3 400e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,320 points. Launch price was $107.
Athlon II X2 265
The Athlon II X2 265 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,324 points. Launch price was $83.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 400e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon II X2 265 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 400e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 400e versus 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 265 — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 265 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Athlon II X3 400e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 265 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 400e scores 1,320 against the Athlon II X2 265's 1,324 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 265. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,320 | 1,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 275 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 520 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 400e supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 400e) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX,870,880G,890GX,890FX (Athlon II X2 265).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 400e) / AMD-V (Athlon II X2 265). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 265 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 265 rivals Pentium E6700.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 400e launched at $100 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 265 debuted at $83. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 400e is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 400e delivers 132.0 pts/$ vs 88.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 265 — making the Athlon II X3 400e the 39.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 400e | Athlon II X2 265 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $83-17% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 132.0+49% | 88.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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