Athlon II X3 425e vs Core i3-3210
Athlon II X3 425e
Core i3-3210
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 Core i3-3210 is on rank 814, 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 Core i3-3210
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+131%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
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 Core i3-3210
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.
Core i3-3210
The Core i3-3210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,229 points. Launch price was $120.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 425e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-3210 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 425e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425e versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-3210 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-3210 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X3 425e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3210 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 425e scores 2,239 against the Core i3-3210's 2,229 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 425e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 425e vs 3072 kB (total) on the Core i3-3210.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3072 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,239 | 2,229 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 505 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,113 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 425e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3210 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 425e) vs 16 (Core i3-3210) — the Core i3-3210 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 425e) and B75,H77 (Core i3-3210).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 425e) / VT-x (Core i3-3210). The Core i3-3210 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X3 425e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3210 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3210 rivals Ryzen 3 1200.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2500 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 425e launched at $79 MSRP, while the Core i3-3210 debuted at $117. At current prices ($58 vs $25), the Core i3-3210 is $33 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 425e delivers 38.6 pts/$ vs 89.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-3210 — making the Core i3-3210 the 79.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i3-3210 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79-32% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $58 | $25-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 38.6 | 89.2+131% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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