Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-560

Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-560 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 435

3 / 3

1,645

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-560

2 / 4

1,642

0.0%

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 435 vs Core i3-560 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 435 vs Core i3-560: 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 435

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $51 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Delivers 58.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.9 vs 11.9 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-560.

Trade-offs

❌30.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 73W.

Core i3-560

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 73W instead of 95W, a 22W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,642 vs 1,645).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.9 vs 18.9 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 435.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 435 better than Core i3-560?

Yes. Athlon II X3 435 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 435 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% 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 435 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 435 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 435 comes in $51 cheaper on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $138 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 58.9% better value on MSRP (18.9 vs 11.9 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-560 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-560 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Core i3-560

The Core i3-560 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 0.33 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,642 points. Launch price was $190.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 435 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-560 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 435 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X3 435 versus 0.33 GHz on the Core i3-560 — a 159.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 435 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Athlon II X3 435 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-560 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 435 scores 1,645 against the Core i3-560's 1,642 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X3 435. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 435 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-560.

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-560
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+779%	0.33 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.33 GHz+15%
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Clarkdale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,645	1,642

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 435 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-560 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-560
Socket	AM3	LGA1156
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 435) / not specified (Core i3-560).

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-560
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 435 was priced at $87, while the Core i3-560 came in at $138. On launch pricing ($87 vs $138), Athlon II X3 435 was $51 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 435 delivers 18.9 pts/$ vs 11.9 pts/$ for the Core i3-560 — making the Athlon II X3 435 the 45.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-560
MSRP	$87-37%	$138
Performance per Dollar	18.9+59%	11.9
Release Date	2009	2010

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