CPU
GPU
Pentium G870
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 Pentium G870 is positioned at rank 836 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Pentium G870 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G870
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 G870 and Athlon II X3 420e
Pentium G870
The Pentium G870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) 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 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,562 points. Launch price was $97.
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 Pentium G870 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Pentium G870 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Pentium G870 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Pentium G870 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G870 scores 1,562 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium G870. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G870 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+19% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+19% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,562 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 880 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G870 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G870) / AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G870 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 420e is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G870 delivers 104.1 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Pentium G870 the 0.3% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G870 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-20% | $107 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.1 | 103.8 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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