Athlon X2 450 vs Core i3-390M
Athlon X2 450
Core i3-390M
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 X2 450 is positioned at rank 760 and the Core i3-390M is on rank 585, so the Core i3-390M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 450
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 450 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 450 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X2 450 and Core i3-390M
Athlon X2 450
The Athlon X2 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,295 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
Processing Power
The Athlon X2 450 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-390M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 versus 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M — a 141.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon X2 450 uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-390M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 450 scores 1,295 against the Core i3-390M's 1,292 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X2 450.
| Feature | Athlon X2 450 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+482% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+32% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaveri (2014−2015) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,295 | 1,292 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 450 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-390M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Athlon X2 450 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon X2 450 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X2 450) vs VT-x (Core i3-390M). The Core i3-390M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon X2 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop, Core i3-390M targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.
| Feature | Athlon X2 450 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Basic Desktop | Mobile |
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