Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-3220
Athlon II X4 640
Core i3-3220
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 640 is positioned at rank 621 and the Core i3-3220 is on rank 804, so the Athlon II X4 640 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 640
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+484%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) |
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 640 and Core i3-3220
Athlon II X4 640
The Athlon II X4 640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,266 points. Launch price was $80.
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 640 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3220 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 640 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Athlon II X4 640 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3220 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 640 scores 2,266 against the Core i3-3220's 2,276 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-3220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 386 vs 503, a 26.3% lead for the Core i3-3220 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 640 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.3 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.3 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,266 | 2,276 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,471 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 386 | 503+30% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 640 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3220 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-3220 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X4 640) and B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 640) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X4 640 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 640 targets Budget, Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 640 rivals Core 2 Quad Q8300; Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 2500 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 640 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Core i3-3220 debuted at $117. At current prices ($15 vs $88), the Athlon II X4 640 is $73 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 640 delivers 151.1 pts/$ vs 25.9 pts/$ for the Core i3-3220 — making the Athlon II X4 640 the 141.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-3220 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-32% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-83% | $88 |
| Performance per Dollar | 151.1+483% | 25.9 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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