Athlon II X3 420e vs Celeron 4305U
Athlon II X3 420e
Celeron 4305U
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 Celeron 4305U is on rank 109, so the Celeron 4305U 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 Celeron 4305U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($107) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+611%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($107) |
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 Celeron 4305U
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.
Celeron 4305U
The Celeron 4305U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron 4305U 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 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 4305U — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 4305U uses Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Celeron 4305U's 1,562 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron 4305U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 4305U.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,557 | 1,562 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 314 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 880 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 4305U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e versus 2133 on the Celeron 4305U — the Celeron 4305U supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 4305U supports up to 64 of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and Whiskey Lake-U (Celeron 4305U).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 2133+71000% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+26214300% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) vs true (Celeron 4305U). The Celeron 4305U includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 610), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop, Celeron 4305U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e; Celeron 4305U rivals Pentium Gold 5405U.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 420e launched at $107 MSRP, while the Celeron 4305U debuted at $107.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Celeron 4305U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107 | $107 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2019 |
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