Athlon II X4 631 vs Pentium G3260
Athlon II X4 631
Pentium G3260
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 631 is positioned at rank 651 and the Pentium G3260 is on rank 556, so the Pentium G3260 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 631
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3260
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Pentium G3260 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($21) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Pentium G3260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+40%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($21) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 631 and Pentium G3260
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 631 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Pentium G3260 debuted at $64. At current prices ($15 vs $21), the Athlon II X4 631 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 631 delivers 141.2 pts/$ vs 100.8 pts/$ for the Pentium G3260 — making the Athlon II X4 631 the 33.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Pentium G3260 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80 | $64-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-29% | $21 |
| Performance per Dollar | 141.2+40% | 100.8 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2015 |
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