Core i3-3220T vs Athlon II X3 460
Core i3-3220T
Athlon II X3 460
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 i3-3220T is positioned at rank 939 and the Athlon II X3 460 is on rank 734, so the Athlon II X3 460 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220T
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 460
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($146) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+879%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($146) | ✅ 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 i3-3220T and Athlon II X3 460
Core i3-3220T
The Core i3-3220T 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,953 points. Launch price was $201.
Athlon II X3 460
The Athlon II X3 460 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 1,965 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 460 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 460 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-3220T versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-3220T uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220T scores 1,953 against the Athlon II X3 460's 1,965 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X3 460. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 465 vs 384, a 19.1% lead for the Core i3-3220T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3220T vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460.
| Feature | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| 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) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,953 | 1,965 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 465+21% | 384 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 944 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-3220T 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-3220T) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 460) — the Core i3-3220T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220T) and 760G,770,785G,790FX,870,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 460).
| Feature | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220T) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460). The Core i3-3220T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220T targets Low Power Desktop, Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220T rivals A8-5500.
| Feature | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3220T launched at $149 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 460 debuted at $87. At current prices ($146 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 460 is $131 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3220T delivers 13.4 pts/$ vs 131.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 460 — making the Athlon II X3 460 the 162.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3220T | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $149 | $87-42% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $146 | $15-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.4 | 131.0+878% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
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