CPU
GPU
Core i5-4200Y
Athlon II X3 420e
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 i5-4200Y is positioned at rank 211 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Core i5-4200Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4200Y
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4200Y | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4200Y | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-4200Y and Athlon II X3 420e
Core i5-4200Y
The Core i5-4200Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,558 points. Launch price was $297.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4200Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i5-4200Y versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 31.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-4200Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4200Y scores 1,558 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-4200Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 574 vs 314, a 58.6% lead for the Core i5-4200Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4200Y vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e.
| Feature | Core i5-4200Y | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.6 GHz+37% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.6 GHz+86% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,558 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 574+83% | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 880 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4200Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i5-4200Y) vs 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) — the Athlon II X3 420e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i5-4200Y) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | Core i5-4200Y | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i5-4200Y) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). The Core i5-4200Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4200), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4200Y targets Tablet/2-in-1, Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4200Y rivals A4-5150M; Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Core i5-4200Y | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4200 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Tablet/2-in-1 | Legacy Desktop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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