CPU
GPU
Core i3-390M
Athlon X2 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 i3-390M is positioned at rank 585 and the Athlon X2 450 is on rank 760, so the Core i3-390M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 i3-390M and Athlon X2 450
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
Athlon X2 450
The Athlon X2 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,295 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-390M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon X2 450's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M versus 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 — a 141.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i3-390M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 450 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-390M scores 1,292 against the Athlon X2 450's 1,295 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X2 450.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 3.9 GHz+482% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.5 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,292 | 1,295 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 450 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 800 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-390M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 450 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon X2 450 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i3-390M) vs AMD-V (Athlon X2 450). The Core i3-390M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon X2 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile, Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Athlon X2 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mobile | Basic Desktop |
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