Athlon II X3 445 vs Athlon II X4 600e

Athlon II X3 445 vs Athlon II X4 600e Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 445

3 / 3

1,807

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X4 600e

4 / 4

1,795

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 445 vs Athlon II X4 600e 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 445 vs Athlon II X4 600e: 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 445

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $13 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Delivers 15.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.8 vs 17.9 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 600e.

Athlon II X4 600e

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II X3 445.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,795 vs 1,807).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.9 vs 20.8 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 445 better than Athlon II X4 600e?

Yes. Athlon II X3 445 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 445 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 38 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 445 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 445 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 445 comes in $13 cheaper on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 15.7% better value on MSRP (20.8 vs 17.9 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X3 445 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 445 vs Athlon II X4 600e Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 445

The Athlon II X3 445 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 1,807 points. Launch price was $91.

Athlon II X4 600e

The Athlon II X4 600e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 1,795 points. Launch price was $130.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 445 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon II X4 600e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 600e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X4 600e — a 34% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 445 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Athlon II X3 445 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 600e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 445 scores 1,807 against the Athlon II X4 600e's 1,795 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X3 445. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Athlon II X4 600e
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz+41%	2.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+41%	2.2 GHz
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	1,807	1,795

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 445) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 600e) — the Athlon II X4 600e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 445) and Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 600e).

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Athlon II X4 600e
Socket	AM3	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 445) / AMD-V (Athlon II X4 600e).

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Athlon II X4 600e
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 445 was priced at $87, while the Athlon II X4 600e came in at $100. On launch pricing ($87 vs $100), Athlon II X3 445 was $13 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 445 delivers 20.8 pts/$ vs 17.9 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 600e — making the Athlon II X3 445 the 14.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Athlon II X4 600e
MSRP	$87-13%	$100
Performance per Dollar	20.8+16%	17.9
Release Date	2010	2009

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