CPU
GPU
Pentium G3260
Athlon II X4 631
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 G3260 is positioned at rank 556 and the Athlon II X4 631 is on rank 651, so the Pentium G3260 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3260
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 631
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3260 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($21) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3260 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+40%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($21) | ✅ 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 G3260 and Athlon II X4 631
Pentium G3260
The Pentium G3260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,116 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 631
The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3260 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 631 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. The Athlon II X4 631 is built on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium G3260 scores 2,116 against the Athlon II X4 631's 2,118 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Pentium G3260 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631.
| Feature | Pentium G3260 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | — | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+27% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | — | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,116 | 2,118 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3260 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 631 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3260 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3260 launched at $64 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 631 debuted at $80. At current prices ($21 vs $15), the Athlon II X4 631 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3260 delivers 100.8 pts/$ vs 141.2 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 631 — making the Athlon II X4 631 the 33.4% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3260 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $64-20% | $80 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $21 | $15-29% |
| Performance per Dollar | 100.8 | 141.2+40% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2011 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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