Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i3-2120
Athlon II X3 460
Core i3-2120
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 460 is positioned at rank 734 and the Core i3-2120 is on rank 911, so the Athlon II X3 460 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 460
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+65%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 460 and Core i3-2120
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.
Core i3-2120
The Core i3-2120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,979 points. Launch price was $95.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2120 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 460 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 — a 3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2120 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Core i3-2120's 1,979 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-2120. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 384 vs 534, a 32.7% lead for the Core i3-2120 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 944 vs 1,140 (18.8% advantage for the Core i3-2120). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,965 | 1,979 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 384 | 534+39% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 944 | 1,140+21% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2120 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2120 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 460) vs 16 (Core i3-2120) — the Core i3-2120 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 H61,H67,P67,Z68,Q65,Q67,B75,H77,Q75,Q77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2120).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| 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 | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460) vs Yes (Core i3-2120). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 460 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Core i3-2120 debuted at $138. At current prices ($15 vs $25), the Athlon II X3 460 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 460 delivers 131.0 pts/$ vs 79.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-2120 — making the Athlon II X3 460 the 49.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 460 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-37% | $138 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-40% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 131.0+65% | 79.2 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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