Core i3-L13G4 vs Athlon II X2 280
Core i3-L13G4
Athlon II X2 280
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-L13G4 is positioned at rank 1210 and the Athlon II X2 280 is on rank 638, so the Athlon II X2 280 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-L13G4
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 280
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-L13G4 | Athlon II X2 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✨ Modern (Lakefield (2020) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-L13G4 | Athlon II X2 280 |
|---|---|---|
| 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-L13G4 and Athlon II X2 280
Core i3-L13G4
The Core i3-L13G4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Lakefield (2020) architecture. It features 5 cores and 5 threads. Base frequency is 0.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FC-CSP1016. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,349 points. Launch price was $281.
Athlon II X2 280
The Athlon II X2 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,355 points. Launch price was $100.
Processing Power
The Core i3-L13G4 packs 5 cores / 5 threads, while the Athlon II X2 280 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core i3-L13G4 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-L13G4 versus 3.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 280 — a 25% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 280 (base: 0.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i3-L13G4 uses the Lakefield (2020) architecture (10 nm), while the Athlon II X2 280 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-L13G4 scores 1,349 against the Athlon II X2 280's 1,355 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X2 280. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-L13G4 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 280.
| Feature | Core i3-L13G4 | Athlon II X2 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 5 / 5+150% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 0.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+350% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 10 nm-78% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Lakefield (2020) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,349 | 1,355 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 290 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 550 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-L13G4 uses the FC-CSP1016 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X2 280 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR4x-4267 on the Core i3-L13G4 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 280 — the Core i3-L13G4 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 280 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i3-L13G4) vs 2 (Athlon II X2 280). PCIe lanes: 8 (Core i3-L13G4) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 280) — the Core i3-L13G4 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-L13G4 | Athlon II X2 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FC-CSP1016 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4x-4267+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-L13G4) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 280). The Core i3-L13G4 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Athlon II X2 280 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-L13G4 targets Mobile, Athlon II X2 280 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 280 rivals Pentium E6700.
| Feature | Core i3-L13G4 | Athlon II X2 280 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mobile | Legacy Desktop |
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