Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 605e

Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 605e Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X4 605e

4 / 4

1,964

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 460 vs Athlon II X4 605e 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 460 vs Athlon II X4 605e: 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 460

2011

Why buy it

✅+28% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $56 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $143 MSRP).
✅Delivers 64.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 22.6 vs 13.7 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $143 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (944 vs 1,069).
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.

Athlon II X4 605e

2009

Why buy it

✅+13.2% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (300 vs 384).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.7 vs 22.6 PassMark/$ ($143 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 460 better than Athlon II X4 605e?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 460 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 605e pulls ahead with 13.2% better Geekbench multi-core.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 605e is the stronger fit. You are getting 13.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 460 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 460 comes in $56 cheaper on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $143 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon II X4 605e is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 13.2% better Geekbench multi-core. It is also 64.5% better value on MSRP (22.6 vs 13.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X3 460 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 605e Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 460

The Athlon II X3 460 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 1,965 points. Launch price was $50.

Athlon II X4 605e

The Athlon II X4 605e 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 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: 1,964 points. Launch price was $102.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon II X4 605e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 605e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 605e — a 38.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 605e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Athlon II X4 605e's 1,964 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 384 vs 300, a 24.6% lead for the Athlon II X3 460 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 944 vs 1,069 (12.4% advantage for the Athlon II X4 605e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Athlon II X4 605e
Cores / Threads	3 / 3	4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+48%	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+48%	2.3 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	1,965	1,964
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	1,140
Geekbench 6 Single	384+28%	300
Geekbench 6 Multi	944	1,069+13%

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 605e 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 460) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 605e) — the Athlon II X4 605e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,770,785G,790FX,870,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 460) and 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X4 605e).

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Athlon II X4 605e
Socket	AM3	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget, Athlon II X4 605e targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Athlon II X4 605e
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 460 was priced at $87, while the Athlon II X4 605e came in at $143. On launch pricing ($87 vs $143), Athlon II X3 460 was $56 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 460 delivers 22.6 pts/$ vs 13.7 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 605e — making the Athlon II X3 460 the 48.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Athlon II X4 605e
MSRP	$87-39%	$143
Performance per Dollar	22.6+65%	13.7
Release Date	2011	2009

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