Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i3-4025U

AMD

Athlon II X3 460

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i3-4025U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2014
Similar parts
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Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i3-4025U 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 Core i3-4025U 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 Core i3-4025U: 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

  • Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i3-4025U.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Core i3-4025U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i3-4025U

2014

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X3 460 across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (1,949 vs 1,965).
    • 438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
    • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 460.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon II X3 460 better than Core i3-4025U?
    Yes. Athlon II X3 460 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% 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 460 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 48 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 0.8% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $87 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Core i3-4025U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

    Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i3-4025U 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.

    Intel

    Core i3-4025U

    The Core i3-4025U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,949 points. Launch price was $275.

    Processing Power

    The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-4025U 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 1.9 GHz on the Core i3-4025U — a 56.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-4025U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Core i3-4025U's 1,949 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4025U.

    FeatureAthlon II X3 460Core i3-4025U
    Cores / Threads
    3 / 3+50%
    2 / 4
    Boost Clock
    3.4 GHz+79%
    1.9 GHz
    Base Clock
    3.4 GHz+79%
    1.9 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    3 MB
    L2 Cache
    512 kB (per core)
    512 kB
    Process
    45 nm
    22 nm-51%
    Architecture
    Rana (2009−2011)
    Haswell (2013−2015)
    PassMark
    1,965
    1,949
    Geekbench 6 Single
    384
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    944
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4025U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon II X3 460Core i3-4025U
    Socket
    AM3
    FCBGA1168
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 3.0+50%
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR3-1333
    Max RAM Capacity
    16 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460) / not specified (Core i3-4025U). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget.

    FeatureAthlon II X3 460Core i3-4025U
    Integrated GPU
    No
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    AMD-V
    Target Use
    Budget