Athlon II X3 420e vs Core i5-4200Y

Athlon II X3 420e vs Core i5-4200Y Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 420e

3 / 3

1,557

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-4200Y

2 / 4

1,558

+0.1%

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 420e vs Core i5-4200Y 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 420e vs Core i5-4200Y: 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 420e

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 512W, a 467W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i5-4200Y.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (314 vs 574).
❌Lower PassMark (1,557 vs 1,558).
❌Launch MSRP is still $107 MSRP, while Core i5-4200Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-4200Y can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-4200Y

2013

Why buy it

✅+82.8% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4200, while Athlon II X3 420e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌1037.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 420e.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-4200Y better than Athlon II X3 420e?

Yes. Core i5-4200Y is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% 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, Core i5-4200Y is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4200Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-4200Y is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-4200Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 420e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (14.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i5-4200Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 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 420e vs Core i5-4200Y Technical Specifications

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

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 i5-4200Y

The Core i5-4200Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,558 points. Launch price was $297.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i5-4200Y 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 1.9 GHz on the Core i5-4200Y — a 31.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4200Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Core i5-4200Y's 1,558 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-4200Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 314 vs 574, a 58.6% lead for the Core i5-4200Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4200Y.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i5-4200Y
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+37%	1.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+86%	1.4 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,557	1,558
Geekbench 6 Single	314	574+83%
Geekbench 6 Multi	880	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4200Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-4200Y — the Core i5-4200Y supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) vs 12 (Core i5-4200Y) — the Athlon II X3 420e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i5-4200Y).

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i5-4200Y
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-4200Y). The Core i5-4200Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4200), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop, Core i5-4200Y targets Tablet/2-in-1. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e; Core i5-4200Y rivals A4-5150M.