Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-3220T

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X3 455

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2010

Similar parts

·······

Buy on Amazon

Core i3-3220T

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2012

Similar parts

·······

Buy on Amazon

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-3220T Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 455

3 / 3

1,938

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3220T

2 / 4

1,953

+0.8%

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 455 vs Core i3-3220T 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 455 vs Core i3-3220T: 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 455

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $61 less on MSRP ($88 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 68.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 22.0 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($88 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,938 vs 1,953).
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3220T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-3220T.

Core i3-3220T

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 2500, while Athlon II X3 455 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II X3 455.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 22.0 PassMark/$ ($149 MSRP vs $88 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-3220T better than Athlon II X3 455?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 455 is ahead with a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-3220T pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-3220T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-3220T is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-3220T comes in 69.3% more expensive on MSRP at $149 MSRP versus $88 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. Athlon II X3 455 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 68.0% better value on paper (22.0 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Core i3-3220T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-3220T Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 455

The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.

Core i3-3220T

The Core i3-3220T 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,953 points. Launch price was $201.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 455 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-3220T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 455 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-3220T — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X3 455 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3220T uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 455 scores 1,938 against the Core i3-3220T's 1,953 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-3220T. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220T.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-3220T
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+18%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+18%	2.8 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	1,938	1,953
Geekbench 6 Single	—	465

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 455 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3220T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 455 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3220T — the Core i3-3220T supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 455) vs 16 (Core i3-3220T) — the Core i3-3220T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 455) and B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220T).

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-3220T
Socket	AM3	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 455) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220T). The Core i3-3220T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X3 455 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220T rivals A8-5500.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-3220T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 2500
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, EPT
Target Use	—	Low Power Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 455 was priced at $88, while the Core i3-3220T came in at $149. On launch pricing ($88 vs $149), Athlon II X3 455 was $61 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 455 delivers 22.0 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-3220T — making the Athlon II X3 455 the 50.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-3220T
MSRP	$88-41%	$149
Performance per Dollar	22.0+68%	13.1
Release Date	2010	2012

Search Athlon II X3 455 on Amazon

Search Core i3-3220T on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.