Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 610e

AMD

Athlon II X3 460

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II X4 610e

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 610e Performance Spectrum

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 610e 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 610e: 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

  • Costs $56 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $143 MSRP).
  • Delivers 64.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 22.6 vs 13.7 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $143 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • 111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.

Athlon II X4 610e

2010

Why buy it

  • 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 (1,959 vs 1,965).
  • 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 610e?
Yes. Athlon II X3 460 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 460 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% 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 460 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 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 $143 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 64.9% better value on MSRP (22.6 vs 13.7 PassMark/$), 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 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 460 vs Athlon II X4 610e Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

AMD

Athlon II X4 610e

The Athlon II X4 610e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,959 points. Launch price was $70.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon II X4 610e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 610e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 versus 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II X4 610e — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 610e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Athlon II X4 610e's 1,959 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon II X3 460Athlon II X4 610e
Cores / Threads
3 / 3
4 / 4+33%
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+42%
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz+42%
2.4 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
1,959
Geekbench 6 Single
384
Geekbench 6 Multi
944
🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 460) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 610e) — the Athlon II X4 610e 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 Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 610e).

FeatureAthlon II X3 460Athlon II X4 610e
Socket
AM3
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
16 GB
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.

FeatureAthlon II X3 460Athlon II X4 610e
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
Budget
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 460 was priced at $87, while the Athlon II X4 610e 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 610e — making the Athlon II X3 460 the 49% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X3 460Athlon II X4 610e
MSRP
$87-39%
$143
Performance per Dollar
22.6+65%
13.7
Release Date
2011
2010

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