Athlon X2 QL-64 vs Phenom II X3 710

Athlon X2 QL-64 vs Phenom II X3 710 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 QL-64

2 / 2

1,614

+1.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Phenom II X3 710

3 / 3

1,597

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 X2 QL-64 vs Phenom II X3 710 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 X2 QL-64 vs Phenom II X3 710: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon X2 QL-64

2009

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $75 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $125 MSRP).
✅Delivers 152.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.3 vs 12.8 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $125 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 95W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Phenom II X3 710

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,597 vs 1,614).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.8 vs 32.3 PassMark/$ ($125 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
❌9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X2 QL-64 better than Phenom II X3 710?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X3 710 is ahead with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-64 pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-64 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon X2 QL-64 is the better buy right now. Athlon X2 QL-64 comes in $75 cheaper on MSRP at $50 MSRP versus $125 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X3 710 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 152.7% better value on MSRP (32.3 vs 12.8 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Phenom II X3 710 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon X2 QL-64 vs Phenom II X3 710 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X2 QL-64

The Athlon X2 QL-64 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,614 points. Launch price was $149.

Phenom II X3 710

The Phenom II X3 710 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). 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: 1,597 points. Launch price was $85.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X2 QL-64 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 710 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 710 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-64 versus 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II X3 710 — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 710. The Athlon X2 QL-64 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 710 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-64 scores 1,614 against the Phenom II X3 710's 1,597 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-64. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-64 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 710.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-64	Phenom II X3 710
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	2.6 GHz+24%
Base Clock	—	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Lion (2008−2009)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,614+1%	1,597

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 QL-64 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X3 710 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-64	Phenom II X3 710
Socket	S1	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X2 QL-64) / not specified (Phenom II X3 710).

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-64	Phenom II X3 710
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X2 QL-64 was priced at $50, while the Phenom II X3 710 came in at $125. On launch pricing ($50 vs $125), Athlon X2 QL-64 was $75 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 QL-64 delivers 32.3 pts/$ vs 12.8 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 710 — making the Athlon X2 QL-64 the 86.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-64	Phenom II X3 710
MSRP	$50-60%	$125
Performance per Dollar	32.3+152%	12.8
Release Date	2009	2009

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