Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-3439Y

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-3439Y Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-3439Y

2 / 4

1,957

0.0%

Pentium Extreme Edition 955

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 i5-3439Y 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 i5-3439Y: 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

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i5-3439Y.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (384 vs 472).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (944 vs 966).
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Core i5-3439Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3439Y can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-3439Y

2013

Why buy it

✅+22.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II X3 460 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 460.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-3439Y better than Athlon II X3 460?

Yes. Core i5-3439Y is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 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, Core i5-3439Y is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% 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, Core i5-3439Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-3439Y is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-3439Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $87 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 460 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Core i5-3439Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-3439Y 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.

Core i5-3439Y

The Core i5-3439Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,957 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i5-3439Y 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 2.3 GHz on the Core i5-3439Y — a 38.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-3439Y uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Core i5-3439Y's 1,957 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 384 vs 472, a 20.6% lead for the Core i5-3439Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 944 vs 966 (2.3% advantage for the Core i5-3439Y). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3439Y.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i5-3439Y
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+48%	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+127%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,965	1,957
Geekbench 6 Single	384	472+23%
Geekbench 6 Multi	944	966+2%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3439Y uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 460 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-3439Y — the Core i5-3439Y supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-3439Y 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 (Core i5-3439Y) — the Core i5-3439Y 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 7-series (Core i5-3439Y).

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i5-3439Y
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460) vs VT-x (Core i5-3439Y). The Core i5-3439Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget, Core i5-3439Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-3439Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.