Athlon II X3 420e vs Ryzen 7 3700X

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 Ryzen 7 3700X 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 Ryzen 7 3700X: 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

✅Costs $222 less on MSRP ($107 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Ryzen 7 3700X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,557 vs 22,430).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.6 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +551.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 368.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
207.5% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$107 MSRP
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 420e.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Athlon II X3 420e?

Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 551.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1340.6% 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, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 551.7% 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, Ryzen 7 3700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 1340.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in 207.5% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you a 551.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 368.5% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 14.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 3700X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 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 Ryzen 7 3700X 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.

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 51.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 174% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	8 / 16+167%
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	4.4 GHz+69%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.6 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	0 kB	32 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	45 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-84%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	1,557	22,430+1341%
Geekbench 6 Single	314	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	880	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Ryzen 7 3700X supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	AM3	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR4-3200+140%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). 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	Ryzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 420e was priced at $107, while the Ryzen 7 3700X came in at $329. On launch pricing ($107 vs $329), Athlon II X3 420e was $222 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 420e delivers 14.6 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 129.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Ryzen 7 3700X
MSRP	$107-67%	$329
Performance per Dollar	14.6	68.2+367%
Release Date	2010	2019

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