CPU
GPU
Phenom X4 9850B
Athlon II X3 455
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 X4 9850B is positioned at rank 331 and the Athlon II X3 455 is on rank 750, so the Phenom X4 9850B offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9850B
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 455
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X4 9850B | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X4 9850B | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 X4 9850B and Athlon II X3 455
Phenom X4 9850B
The Phenom X4 9850B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,946 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X3 455
The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.
Processing Power
The Phenom X4 9850B packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 455 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom X4 9850B has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Phenom X4 9850B versus 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 — a 27.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455. The Phenom X4 9850B uses the Agena (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X3 455 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X4 9850B scores 1,946 against the Athlon II X3 455's 1,938 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom X4 9850B. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9850B vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9850B | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+33% | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.3 GHz+32% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Agena (2007−2008) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,946 | 1,938 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X4 9850B uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 455 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9850B | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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