Core i3-2100 vs Athlon II X3 450
Core i3-2100
Athlon II X3 450
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 Core i3-2100 is positioned at rank 885 and the Athlon II X3 450 is on rank 761, so the Athlon II X3 450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2100
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+49%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Core i3-2100 and Athlon II X3 450
Core i3-2100
The Core i3-2100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,856 points. Launch price was $73.
Athlon II X3 450
The Athlon II X3 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2100 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 450 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2100 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-2100 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2100 scores 1,856 against the Athlon II X3 450's 1,865 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X3 450. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2100 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,856 | 1,865 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2100 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-2100) / AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2100 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 450 debuted at $87. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Core i3-2100 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2100 delivers 185.6 pts/$ vs 124.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 450 — making the Core i3-2100 the 39.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $87-26% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 185.6+49% | 124.3 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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