FX-6120 vs Athlon PRO 200GE
FX-6120
Athlon PRO 200GE
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. The FX-6120 is positioned at rank #787 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-6120
Performance Per Dollar Athlon PRO 200GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($54) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($81) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($54) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($81) |
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 FX-6120 and Athlon PRO 200GE
FX-6120
The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon PRO 200GE
The Athlon PRO 200GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,816 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The FX-6120 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Athlon PRO 200GE offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the FX-6120 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon PRO 200GE — a 27% clock advantage for the FX-6120 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The FX-6120 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon PRO 200GE uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6120 scores 3,853 against the Athlon PRO 200GE's 3,816 — a 1% lead for the FX-6120. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120 vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon PRO 200GE.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+200% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+31% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+12% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+1100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Zambezi (2011−2012) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 3,853 | 3,816 |
Memory & Platform
The FX-6120 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon PRO 200GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
The Athlon PRO 200GE includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the FX-6120 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
Value Analysis
The FX-6120 launched at $188 MSRP, while the Athlon PRO 200GE debuted at $55. At current prices ($54 vs $81), the FX-6120 is $27 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the FX-6120 delivers 71.4 pts/$ vs 47.1 pts/$ for the Athlon PRO 200GE — making the FX-6120 the 40.9% better value option.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Athlon PRO 200GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $188 | $55-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $54-33% | $81 |
| Performance per Dollar | 71.4+52% | 47.1 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2018 |
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