Athlon II X3 420e vs Turion X2 RM-70

Athlon II X3 420e vs Turion X2 RM-70 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 420e

3 / 3

1,557

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Turion X2 RM-70

2 / 2

1,556

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 Turion X2 RM-70 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 Turion X2 RM-70: 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

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Turion X2 RM-70.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $107 MSRP, while Turion X2 RM-70 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4400% higher power demand at 45W vs 1W.

Turion X2 RM-70

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 45W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,556 vs 1,557).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 420e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 420e better than Turion X2 RM-70?

Yes. Athlon II X3 420e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% 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, Athlon II X3 420e is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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, Athlon II X3 420e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 420e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 420e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $107 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (14.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X3 420e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 420e vs Turion X2 RM-70 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.

Turion X2 RM-70

The Turion X2 RM-70 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Puma (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,556 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Turion X2 RM-70 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 GHz on the Turion X2 RM-70 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e. The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion X2 RM-70 uses Puma (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Turion X2 RM-70's 1,556 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Turion X2 RM-70
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+30%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	1 MB+100%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Puma (2008−2009)
PassMark	1,557	1,556
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 Turion X2 RM-70 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Turion X2 RM-70
Socket	AM3	S1
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	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) / not specified (Turion X2 RM-70). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.