Athlon II X3 420e vs A9-9410
Athlon II X3 420e
A9-9410
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 420e is positioned at rank 906 and the A9-9410 is on rank 1071, so the Athlon II X3 420e 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 420e
Performance Per Dollar A9-9410
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+67%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 420e and A9-9410
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
A9-9410
The A9-9410 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,550 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the A9-9410 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e versus 3.5 GHz on the A9-9410 — a 29.5% clock advantage for the A9-9410 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A9-9410 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the A9-9410's 1,550 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 314 vs 350, a 10.8% lead for the A9-9410 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 880 vs 650 (30.1% advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.5 GHz+35% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.9 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2048 kB+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,557 | 1,550 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 314 | 350+11% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 880+35% | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A9-9410 uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e versus DDR4-2133 on the A9-9410 — the A9-9410 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 420e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II X3 420e) vs 1 (A9-9410). PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) vs 8 (A9-9410) — the Athlon II X3 420e offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and SoC (A9-9410).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FP4 |
| 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 | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A9-9410 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop, A9-9410 targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e; A9-9410 rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 420e launched at $107 MSRP, while the A9-9410 debuted at $150. At current prices ($15 vs $25), the Athlon II X3 420e is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 420e delivers 103.8 pts/$ vs 62.0 pts/$ for the A9-9410 — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 50.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | A9-9410 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107-29% | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-40% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 103.8+67% | 62.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2016 |
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