CPU
GPU
Phenom II X3 720
Athlon II X3 425
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 720 is positioned at rank 957 and the Athlon II X3 425 is on rank 792, so the Athlon II X3 425 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 720
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 425
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1176%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 720 and Athlon II X3 425
Phenom II X3 720
The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.
Athlon II X3 425
The Athlon II X3 425 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 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: 1,595 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X3 720 and Athlon II X3 425 share an identical 3-core/3-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425 — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Phenom II X3 720 uses the Heka (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X3 425 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 720 scores 1,600 against the Athlon II X3 425's 1,595 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 425.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,600 | 1,595 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 425 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Phenom II X3 720) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 425) — the Phenom II X3 720 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 720) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 425).
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720) / not specified (Athlon II X3 425). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X3 720 launched at $130 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 425 debuted at $79. At current prices ($64 vs $5), the Athlon II X3 425 is $59 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X3 720 delivers 25.0 pts/$ vs 319.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 425 — making the Athlon II X3 425 the 170.9% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Athlon II X3 425 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $130 | $79-39% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $64 | $5-92% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.0 | 319.0+1176% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Phenom II X3 720 and Athlon II X3 425
