CPU
GPU
Pentium G2120
Athlon II X3 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 Pentium G2120 is positioned at rank 753 and the Athlon II X3 450 is on rank 761, so the Pentium G2120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2120
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Pentium G2120 and Athlon II X3 450
Pentium G2120
The Pentium G2120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,876 points. Launch price was $88.
Athlon II X3 450
The Athlon II X3 450 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.
Processing Power
The Pentium G2120 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 450 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G2120 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium G2120 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G2120 scores 1,876 against the Athlon II X3 450's 1,865 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium G2120. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G2120 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450.
| Feature | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,876 | 1,865 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G2120 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 450 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | 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 (Pentium G2120) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450). The Pentium G2120 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X3 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G2120 targets Desktop, Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G2120 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 450 debuted at $87. At current prices ($20 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 450 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G2120 delivers 93.8 pts/$ vs 124.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 450 — making the Athlon II X3 450 the 28% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G2120 | Athlon II X3 450 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-1% | $87 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $15-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 93.8 | 124.3+33% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium G2120 and Athlon II X3 450
