
Phenom II X3 N870 vs Pentium G3430

Phenom II X3 N870

Pentium G3430
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 N870 is positioned at rank 250 and the Pentium G3430 is on rank 829, so the Phenom II X3 N870 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 N870
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3430
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Pentium G3430 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Pentium G3430 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 N870 and Pentium G3430

Phenom II X3 N870
The Phenom II X3 N870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,145 points. Launch price was $149.

Pentium G3430
The Pentium G3430 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,127 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N870 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Pentium G3430 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 N870 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N870 versus 3.3 GHz on the Pentium G3430 — a 35.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G3430. The Phenom II X3 N870 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium G3430 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N870 scores 2,145 against the Pentium G3430's 2,127 — a 0.8% lead for the Phenom II X3 N870.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Pentium G3430 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.3 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,145 | 2,127 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 N870 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3430 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Pentium G3430 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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