Athlon II X4 631 vs Pentium G3260

Athlon II X4 631 vs Pentium G3260 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 631

4 / 4

2,118

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G3260

2 / 2

2,116

0.0%

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 631 vs Pentium G3260 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 631 vs Pentium G3260: 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 631

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 26.5 vs 33.1 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $64 MSRP).
❌88.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 53W.

Pentium G3260

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $16 less on MSRP ($64 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 33.1 vs 26.5 PassMark/$ ($64 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅Draws 53W instead of 100W, a 47W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,116 vs 2,118).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 631 better than Pentium G3260?

Yes. Athlon II X4 631 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 0.1% 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 X4 631 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, Athlon II X4 631 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 631 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II X4 631 comes in 25.0% more expensive on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $64 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium G3260 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 24.9% better value on paper (33.1 vs 26.5 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1150.

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

Pentium G3260 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 631 vs Pentium G3260 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 631

The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) 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: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.

Pentium G3260

The Pentium G3260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,116 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3260 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. The Athlon II X4 631 is built on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Pentium G3260's 2,116 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 3 MB on the Pentium G3260.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Pentium G3260
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	—
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.3 GHz+27%
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	—
PassMark	2,118	2,116

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3260 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Pentium G3260
Socket	FM1	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 631 was priced at $80, while the Pentium G3260 came in at $64. On launch pricing ($80 vs $64), Pentium G3260 was $16 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 631 delivers 26.5 pts/$ vs 33.1 pts/$ for the Pentium G3260 — making the Pentium G3260 the 22.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Pentium G3260
MSRP	$80	$64-20%
Performance per Dollar	26.5	33.1+25%
Release Date	2011	2015

Search Athlon II X4 631 on Amazon

Search Pentium G3260 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.