Athlon II X3 425 vs Phenom II X3 720
Athlon II X3 425
Phenom II X3 720
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 425 is positioned at rank 792 and the Phenom II X3 720 is on rank 957, so the Athlon II X3 425 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 425
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1176%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
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 425 and Phenom II X3 720
Athlon II X3 425
The Athlon II X3 425 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,595 points. Launch price was $42.
Phenom II X3 720
The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X3 425 and Phenom II X3 720 share an identical 3-core/3-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X3 425 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 425 scores 1,595 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 425 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,595 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 425 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. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 425) vs 16 (Phenom II X3 720) — the Phenom II X3 720 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 425) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 425) / AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 425 launched at $79 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 720 debuted at $130. At current prices ($5 vs $64), the Athlon II X3 425 is $59 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 425 delivers 319.0 pts/$ vs 25.0 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 720 — making the Athlon II X3 425 the 170.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79-39% | $130 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-92% | $64 |
| Performance per Dollar | 319.0+1176% | 25.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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