Athlon II X3 445 vs Core i7-820QM

Athlon II X3 445 vs Core i7-820QM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 445

3 / 3

1,807

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-820QM

4 / 8

1,819

+0.7%

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 Core i7-820QM 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 Core i7-820QM: 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 $459 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).
✅Delivers 523.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.8 vs 3.3 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,807 vs 1,819).
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.

Core i7-820QM

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.3 vs 20.8 PassMark/$ ($546 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 445 better than Core i7-820QM?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 445 is ahead with a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-820QM pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-820QM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 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 $459 cheaper on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $546 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i7-820QM is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 523.4% better value on MSRP (20.8 vs 3.3 PassMark/$), 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). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 445 vs Core i7-820QM 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.

Core i7-820QM

The Core i7-820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.73 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,819 points. Launch price was $546.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 445 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i7-820QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-820QM has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 versus 3.06 GHz on the Core i7-820QM — a 1.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 445 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.73 GHz). The Athlon II X3 445 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-820QM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 445 scores 1,807 against the Core i7-820QM's 1,819 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-820QM. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 445 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-820QM.

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Core i7-820QM
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 8+33%
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz+1%	3.06 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+79%	1.73 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Clarksfield (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,807	1,819

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 445 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-820QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 445) vs 16 (Core i7-820QM) — the Core i7-820QM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 445) and PM55,HM55,QM57 (Core i7-820QM).

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Core i7-820QM
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 445) / true (Core i7-820QM). Direct competitor: Core i7-820QM rivals Core 2 Quad Q9000.

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Core i7-820QM
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 445 was priced at $87, while the Core i7-820QM came in at $546. On launch pricing ($87 vs $546), Athlon II X3 445 was $459 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 445 delivers 20.8 pts/$ vs 3.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-820QM — making the Athlon II X3 445 the 144.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 445	Core i7-820QM
MSRP	$87-84%	$546
Performance per Dollar	20.8+530%	3.3
Release Date	2010	2009

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