Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i7-620M

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i7-620M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 460

3 / 3

1,965

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-620M

2 / 4

1,976

+0.6%

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 i7-620M 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 i7-620M: 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

✅+9.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i7-620M.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Core i7-620M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-620M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-620M

2010

Why buy it

✅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 Intel HD Graphics, while Athlon II X3 460 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (350 vs 384).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (800 vs 944).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 460.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 460 better than Core i7-620M?

Yes. Athlon II X3 460 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 18% 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, Athlon II X3 460 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.6% 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 18% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 $87 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

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 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 460 vs Core i7-620M 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 i7-620M

The Core i7-620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 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: 4 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: 1,976 points. Launch price was $332.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 460 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i7-620M 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 i7-620M — 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 i7-620M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 460 scores 1,965 against the Core i7-620M's 1,976 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-620M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 384 vs 350, a 9.3% lead for the Athlon II X3 460 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 944 vs 800 (16.5% advantage for the Athlon II X3 460). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-620M.

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i7-620M
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	4 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	1,976
Geekbench 6 Single	384+10%	350
Geekbench 6 Multi	944+18%	800

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 460 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-620M 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 i7-620M — 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 i7-620M) — the Core i7-620M 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,QM57,HM57,QS57 (Core i7-620M).

Feature	Athlon II X3 460	Core i7-620M
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 (Core i7-620M). The Core i7-620M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget, Core i7-620M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-620M rivals Core 2 Duo T9600.