Core i3-3210 vs Athlon II X3 425e
Core i3-3210
Athlon II X3 425e
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 i3-3210 is positioned at rank 814 and the Athlon II X3 425e is on rank 620, so the Athlon II X3 425e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3210
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 425e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+131%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) |
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 i3-3210 and Athlon II X3 425e
Core i3-3210
The Core i3-3210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (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: 2,229 points. Launch price was $120.
Athlon II X3 425e
The Athlon II X3 425e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,239 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3210 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 425e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 425e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-3210 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425e — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-3210 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-3210 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X3 425e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3210 scores 2,229 against the Athlon II X3 425e's 2,239 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 425e. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total) on the Core i3-3210 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 425e.
| Feature | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3072 kB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,229 | 2,239 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 505 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,113 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3210 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 425e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-3210) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 425e) — the Core i3-3210 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B75,H77 (Core i3-3210) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 425e).
| Feature | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-3210) / not specified (Athlon II X3 425e). The Core i3-3210 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X3 425e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3210 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3210 rivals Ryzen 3 1200.
| Feature | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3210 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 425e debuted at $79. At current prices ($25 vs $58), the Core i3-3210 is $33 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3210 delivers 89.2 pts/$ vs 38.6 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 425e — making the Core i3-3210 the 79.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3210 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $79-32% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-57% | $58 |
| Performance per Dollar | 89.2+131% | 38.6 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2011 |
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