Athlon II X3 425 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

Athlon II X3 425 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 425

3 / 3

1,595

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

2 / 2

1,585

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 425 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 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 425 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85: 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 425

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $79 MSRP, while Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4650% higher power demand at 95W vs 2W.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 95W, a 93W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,585 vs 1,595).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 425 better than Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85?

Yes. Athlon II X3 425 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, 0.6% 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, Athlon II X3 425 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 425 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 425 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 425 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $79 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 425 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 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 425 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

The Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 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: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,585 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 425 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 425 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425 versus 2.3 GHz on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 — a 16% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 425. The Athlon II X3 425 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 uses Puma (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 425 scores 1,595 against the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85's 1,585 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X3 425. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 425	Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz+17%	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	2 MB+300%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Puma (2008−2009)
PassMark	1,595	1,585

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 425 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.