Core i3-3220 vs Athlon II X4 640
Core i3-3220
Athlon II X4 640
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 i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Athlon II X4 640 is on rank 621, so the Athlon II X4 640 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 640
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+484%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($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 i3-3220 and Athlon II X4 640
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (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: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Athlon II X4 640
The Athlon II X4 640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,266 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 640 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 640 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X4 640 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Athlon II X4 640's 2,266 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-3220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 503 vs 386, a 26.3% lead for the Core i3-3220 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 640.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (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) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,266 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,471 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503+30% | 386 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,332 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 640 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-3220 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. Chipset compatibility: B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X4 640).
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 640). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X4 640 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop, Athlon II X4 640 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300; Athlon II X4 640 rivals Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3220 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 640 debuted at $80. At current prices ($88 vs $15), the Athlon II X4 640 is $73 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3220 delivers 25.9 pts/$ vs 151.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 640 — making the Athlon II X4 640 the 141.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Athlon II X4 640 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $80-32% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $88 | $15-83% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.9 | 151.1+483% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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