Athlon II X3 425e vs Core i7-3555LE
Athlon II X3 425e
Core i7-3555LE
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 i7-3555LE is on rank 1150, 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 i7-3555LE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i7-3555LE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($58) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i7-3555LE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+383%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($58) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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 i7-3555LE
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 i7-3555LE
The Core i7-3555LE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,238 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 425e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i7-3555LE 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 i7-3555LE — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-3555LE (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X3 425e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-3555LE uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 425e scores 2,239 against the Core i7-3555LE's 2,238 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X3 425e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 425e vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3555LE.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i7-3555LE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+8% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (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 | 2,238 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 425e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3555LE uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i7-3555LE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 425e launched at $79 MSRP, while the Core i7-3555LE debuted at $300. At current prices ($58 vs $280), the Athlon II X3 425e is $222 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 425e delivers 38.6 pts/$ vs 8.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-3555LE — making the Athlon II X3 425e the 131.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 425e | Core i7-3555LE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79-74% | $300 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $58-79% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 38.6+383% | 8.0 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2012 |
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