Athlon II X3 420e vs Pentium G870

Athlon II X3 420e vs Pentium G870 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 420e

3 / 3

1,557

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G870

2 / 2

1,562

+0.3%

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 Pentium G870 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 Pentium G870: 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 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Pentium G870.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,557 vs 1,562).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.6 vs 18.2 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).

Pentium G870

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $21 less on MSRP ($86 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.2 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 420e.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium G870 better than Athlon II X3 420e?

Yes. Pentium G870 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% 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, Pentium G870 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% 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, Pentium G870 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium G870 is the better buy right now. Pentium G870 comes in $21 cheaper on MSRP at $86 MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 24.8% better value on MSRP (18.2 vs 14.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium G870 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 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 Pentium G870 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.

Pentium G870

The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G870 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 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Pentium G870 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G870 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Pentium G870's 1,562 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium G870. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G870.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Pentium G870
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.1 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.1 GHz+19%
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	1,562
Geekbench 6 Single	314	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	880	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G870 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Pentium G870
Socket	AM3	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) / not specified (Pentium G870). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Pentium G870
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 420e was priced at $107, while the Pentium G870 came in at $86. On launch pricing ($107 vs $86), Pentium G870 was $21 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 420e delivers 14.6 pts/$ vs 18.2 pts/$ for the Pentium G870 — making the Pentium G870 the 22.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Pentium G870
MSRP	$107	$86-20%
Performance per Dollar	14.6	18.2+25%
Release Date	2010	2012

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