Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i3-2102

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i3-2102 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620

4 / 4

2,026

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2102

2 / 4

2,029

+0.1%

Xeon W3503

Core i3-4010Y

Pentium 4415Y

Core 2 Extreme QX9300

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 X4 620 vs Core i3-2102 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 X4 620 vs Core i3-2102: 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 X4 620

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $18 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $117 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.5 vs 17.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $117 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,026 vs 2,029).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2102 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-2102.

Core i3-2102

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 2000, while Athlon II X4 620 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Athlon II X4 620.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 17.3 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($117 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-2102 better than Athlon II X4 620?

Yes. Core i3-2102 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, 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 i3-2102 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.7% 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 i3-2102 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-2102 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-2102 comes in 18.2% more expensive on MSRP at $117 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 18.0% better value on paper (20.5 vs 17.3 PassMark/$), 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 i3-2102 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i3-2102 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon II X4 620

The Athlon II X4 620 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 2,026 points. Launch price was $65.

Core i3-2102

The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 620 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2102 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 620 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2102 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 620 scores 2,026 against the Core i3-2102's 2,029 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-2102. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i3-2102
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.1 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.1 GHz+19%
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	Propus (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,026	2,029
Geekbench 6 Single	—	515
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,082

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2102 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X4 620) vs 16 (Core i3-2102) — the Core i3-2102 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620) and H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-2102).

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i3-2102
Socket	AM3	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 620) / VT-x (Core i3-2102). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X4 620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i3-2102
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics 2000
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x
Target Use	—	Office Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 620 was priced at $99, while the Core i3-2102 came in at $117. On launch pricing ($99 vs $117), Athlon II X4 620 was $18 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 17.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2102 — making the Athlon II X4 620 the 16.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i3-2102
MSRP	$99-15%	$117
Performance per Dollar	20.5+18%	17.3
Release Date	2009	2011

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