Athlon II X4 645 vs Core i3-3245
Athlon II X4 645
Core i3-3245
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 645 is positioned at rank 819 and the Core i3-3245 is on rank 794, so the Core i3-3245 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 645
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3245
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+146%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 645 and Core i3-3245
Athlon II X4 645
The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.
Core i3-3245
The Core i3-3245 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2013 (12 years ago). It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,412 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 645 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3245 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 645 has 2 more cores. The Athlon II X4 645 is built on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 645 scores 2,375 against the Core i3-3245's 2,412 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i3-3245. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645 vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i3-3245.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.4 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 2,375 | 2,412+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,374 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 399 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,374 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 645 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3245 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-3245 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.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Virtualization support: Yes (Athlon II X4 645) vs VT-x (Core i3-3245). The Core i3-3245 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 645 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop, Core i3-3245 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 645 launched at $126 MSRP, while the Core i3-3245 debuted at $120. At current prices ($20 vs $50), the Athlon II X4 645 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 645 delivers 118.8 pts/$ vs 48.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-3245 — making the Athlon II X4 645 the 84.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i3-3245 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $126 | $120-5% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-60% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 118.8+146% | 48.2 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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