Athlon II X3 425e vs Athlon II X4 635
Athlon II X3 425e
Athlon II X4 635
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 425e is positioned at rank 620 and the Athlon II X4 635 is on rank 1069, so the Athlon II X3 425e 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 425e
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 635
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($58) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+329%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($58) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 425e and Athlon II X4 635
Athlon II X3 425e
The Athlon II X3 425e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. 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): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,239 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X4 635
The Athlon II X4 635 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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: 2,248 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 425e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon II X4 635 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 635 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425e versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X4 635 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 635 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Athlon II X3 425e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 635 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 425e scores 2,239 against the Athlon II X4 635's 2,248 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 635. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,239 | 2,248 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 658 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 180 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 550 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 425e 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 425e) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 635) — the Athlon II X4 635 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 425e) and AMD 770,785G,790FX,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X4 635).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066 |
| 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 425e) / AMD-V (Athlon II X4 635). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 635 targets Budget.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 425e launched at $79 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 635 debuted at $400. At current prices ($58 vs $250), the Athlon II X3 425e is $192 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 425e delivers 38.6 pts/$ vs 9.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 635 — making the Athlon II X3 425e the 124.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Athlon II X4 635 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79-80% | $400 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $58-77% | $250 |
| Performance per Dollar | 38.6+329% | 9.0 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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