CPU
GPU
Athlon II X3 435
A8-7100
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 435 is positioned at rank 817 and the A8-7100 is on rank 746, so the A8-7100 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 435
Performance Per Dollar A8-7100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 435 | A8-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 435 | A8-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 435 and A8-7100
Athlon II X3 435
The Athlon II X3 435 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 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: 1,645 points. Launch price was $160.
A8-7100
The A8-7100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 435 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the A8-7100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-7100 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X3 435 versus 3 GHz on the A8-7100 — a 3.4% clock advantage for the A8-7100 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X3 435 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-7100 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 435 scores 1,645 against the A8-7100's 1,647 — a 0.1% lead for the A8-7100.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | A8-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+61% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,645 | 1,647 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 435 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-7100 uses FP3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 435 versus 1600 on the A8-7100 — the A8-7100 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3 (Athlon II X3 435) and FP3 (A8-7100).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | A8-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 435) vs true (A8-7100). The A8-7100 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 435 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-7100 rivals Core i3-4010U.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | A8-7100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
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