Athlon II X3 400e vs Atom x7-Z8700

Athlon II X3 400e vs Atom x7-Z8700 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 400e

3 / 3

1,320

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Atom x7-Z8700

4 / 4

1,325

+0.4%

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 X3 400e vs Atom x7-Z8700 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 X3 400e vs Atom x7-Z8700: 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 X3 400e

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,320 vs 1,325).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Atom x7-Z8700 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x7-Z8700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Atom x7-Z8700

2015

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), while Athlon II X3 400e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom x7-Z8700 better than Athlon II X3 400e?

Yes. Atom x7-Z8700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better 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, Atom x7-Z8700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 44 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Atom x7-Z8700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Atom x7-Z8700 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Atom x7-Z8700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 400e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (13.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Atom x7-Z8700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 400e vs Atom x7-Z8700 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Atom x7-Z8700

The Atom x7-Z8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,325 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 400e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Atom x7-Z8700 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x7-Z8700 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 400e versus 2.4 GHz on the Atom x7-Z8700 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Atom x7-Z8700 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X3 400e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x7-Z8700 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 400e scores 1,320 against the Atom x7-Z8700's 1,325 — a 0.4% lead for the Atom x7-Z8700. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 400e	Atom x7-Z8700
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.4 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+38%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	2 MB+300%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Cherry Trail (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,320	1,325

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 400e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x7-Z8700 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 400e versus LPDDR3-1600 on the Atom x7-Z8700 — the Atom x7-Z8700 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 400e supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 400e) vs 2 (Atom x7-Z8700) — the Atom x7-Z8700 offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 400e) and Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x7-Z8700).

Feature	Athlon II X3 400e	Atom x7-Z8700
Socket	AM3	UTFCBGA1380
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	LPDDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	2