Core i7-3689Y vs Athlon II X4 605e
Core i7-3689Y
Athlon II X4 605e
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 i7-3689Y is positioned at rank 206 and the Athlon II X4 605e is on rank 923, so the Core i7-3689Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3689Y
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 605e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3689Y | Athlon II X4 605e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3689Y | Athlon II X4 605e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 i7-3689Y and Athlon II X4 605e
Core i7-3689Y
The Core i7-3689Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,967 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 605e
The Athlon II X4 605e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 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: 1,964 points. Launch price was $102.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3689Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 605e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 605e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i7-3689Y versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 605e — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-3689Y (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-3689Y uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X4 605e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3689Y scores 1,967 against the Athlon II X4 605e's 1,964 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-3689Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 507 vs 300, a 51.3% lead for the Core i7-3689Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,100 vs 1,069 (2.9% advantage for the Core i7-3689Y). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3689Y vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 605e.
| Feature | Core i7-3689Y | Athlon II X4 605e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+13% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.3 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,967 | 1,964 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,140 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 507+69% | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,100+3% | 1,069 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3689Y uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 605e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM77,QM77 (Core i7-3689Y) and 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X4 605e).
| Feature | Core i7-3689Y | Athlon II X4 605e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-3689Y) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 605e). The Core i7-3689Y includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 605e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3689Y targets Ultra-Low Power Laptop, Athlon II X4 605e targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3689Y rivals AMD A10-4655M.
| Feature | Core i7-3689Y | Athlon II X4 605e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Ultra-Low Power Laptop | Desktop |
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