Athlon II X3 420e vs Core i3-2120T
Athlon II X3 420e
Core i3-2120T
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 Core i3-2120T is on rank 956, 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 Core i3-2120T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+151%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) |
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 Core i3-2120T
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.
Core i3-2120T
The Core i3-2120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,570 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2120T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-2120T — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2120T uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Core i3-2120T's 1,570 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-2120T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 314 vs 403, a 24.8% lead for the Core i3-2120T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120T.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,557 | 1,570 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 314 | 403+28% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 880 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2120T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2120T 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 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and H61,B65,Q65,Q67,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Q75,Q77,H77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2120T).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| 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 VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2120T). The Core i3-2120T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop, Core i3-2120T targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e; Core i3-2120T rivals A6-3500.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 420e launched at $107 MSRP, while the Core i3-2120T debuted at $127. At current prices ($15 vs $38), the Athlon II X3 420e is $23 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 420e delivers 103.8 pts/$ vs 41.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2120T — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 86.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 420e | Core i3-2120T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107-16% | $127 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-61% | $38 |
| Performance per Dollar | 103.8+151% | 41.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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