Phenom II X3 710 vs Athlon X2 QL-64
Phenom II X3 710
Athlon X2 QL-64
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 Phenom II X3 710 is positioned at rank 400 and the Athlon X2 QL-64 is on rank 665, so the Phenom II X3 710 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 710
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-64
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($125) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+742%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($125) | ✅ 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 Phenom II X3 710 and Athlon X2 QL-64
Phenom II X3 710
The Phenom II X3 710 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). 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: 1,597 points. Launch price was $85.
Athlon X2 QL-64
The Athlon X2 QL-64 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,614 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 710 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon X2 QL-64 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 710 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II X3 710 versus 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-64 — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 710. The Phenom II X3 710 uses the Heka (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-64 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 710 scores 1,597 against the Athlon X2 QL-64's 1,614 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-64. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 710 vs 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-64.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+24% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,597 | 1,614+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 710 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-64 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 710) / AMD-V (Athlon X2 QL-64).
| Feature | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X3 710 launched at $125 MSRP, while the Athlon X2 QL-64 debuted at $50.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 710 | Athlon X2 QL-64 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $125 | $50-60% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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