Athlon II X3 455 vs Pentium G3240

Athlon II X3 455 vs Pentium G3240 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 455

3 / 3

1,938

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G3240

2 / 2

1,930

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 455 vs Pentium G3240 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 Pentium G3240: 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 $1 less on MSRP ($88 MSRP vs $89 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌79.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 53W.

Pentium G3240

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 53W instead of 95W, a 42W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,930 vs 1,938).
❌
1.1% HIGHER MSRP
$89 MSRPvs$88 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 455 better than Pentium G3240?

Yes. Athlon II X3 455 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% 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 455 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.6% 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 455 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 455 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 455 comes in $1 cheaper on MSRP at $88 MSRP versus $89 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1.6% better value on MSRP (22.0 vs 21.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium G3240 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Pentium G3240 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.

Pentium G3240

The Pentium G3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,930 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 455 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G3240 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 455 has 1 more core. The Athlon II X3 455 is built on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 455 scores 1,938 against the Pentium G3240's 1,930 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 455. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455 vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium G3240.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Pentium G3240
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	—
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+6%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	—
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	—
PassMark	1,938	1,930

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 455 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3240 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Pentium G3240
Socket	AM3	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 455 was priced at $88, while the Pentium G3240 came in at $89. On launch pricing ($88 vs $89), Athlon II X3 455 was $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 455 delivers 22.0 pts/$ vs 21.7 pts/$ for the Pentium G3240 — making the Athlon II X3 455 the 1.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Pentium G3240
MSRP	$88-1%	$89
Performance per Dollar	22.0+1%	21.7
Release Date	2010	2014

Search Athlon II X3 455 on Amazon

Search Pentium G3240 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.