Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-580M

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-580M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-580M

2 / 4

1,983

+0.9%

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 i5-580M 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 i5-580M: 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

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i5-580M.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (384 vs 445).
❌Lower PassMark (1,965 vs 1,983).
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Core i5-580M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-580M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-580M

2010

Why buy it

✅+15.9% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics, while Athlon II X3 460 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 460.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-580M better than Athlon II X3 460?

Yes. Core i5-580M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-580M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.9% 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 i5-580M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-580M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-580M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $87 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X3 460 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Athlon II X3 460 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i5-580M 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 i5-580M

The Core i5-580M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,983 points. Launch price was $266.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i5-580M 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 3.33 GHz on the Core i5-580M — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon II X3 460 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-580M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Core i5-580M's 1,983 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-580M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 384 vs 445, a 14.7% lead for the Core i5-580M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-580M.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i5-580M
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+2%	3.33 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+28%	2.66 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,965	1,983
Geekbench 6 Single	384	445+16%
Geekbench 6 Multi	944	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-580M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 460 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-580M — the Athlon II X3 460 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 460 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 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 i5-580M) — the Core i5-580M 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 HM55,PM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-580M).

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i5-580M
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
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, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-580M). The Core i5-580M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget, Core i5-580M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-580M rivals Phenom II X2 N660.