CPU
GPU
Athlon II X3 450
Pentium G2120
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 450 is positioned at rank 761 and the Pentium G2120 is on rank 753, so the Pentium G2120 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 450
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 450 and Pentium G2120
Athlon II X3 450
The Athlon II X3 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.
Pentium G2120
The Pentium G2120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,876 points. Launch price was $88.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 450 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G2120 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 versus 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G2120 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon II X3 450 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G2120 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 450 scores 1,865 against the Pentium G2120's 1,876 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium G2120. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G2120.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 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 | 1,865 | 1,876 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 450 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G2120 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450) vs VT-x (Pentium G2120). The Pentium G2120 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X3 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop, Pentium G2120 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 450 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Pentium G2120 debuted at $86. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Athlon II X3 450 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 450 delivers 124.3 pts/$ vs 93.8 pts/$ for the Pentium G2120 — making the Athlon II X3 450 the 28% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Pentium G2120 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87 | $86-1% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 124.3+33% | 93.8 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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