AMDOutdated for demanding workloadsDesktop

AMD Athlon II X3 420e

Explore AMD Athlon II X3 420e technical reviews, specifications and benchmark results, with practical context for performance, compatibility and upgrade comparisons.

Last updated: 2026-10-20
2.9/ 10
Technical rating

Outdated for demanding workloads

AMD Athlon II X3 420e is a Desktop processor with 3 cores and 3 threads. Its base clock is 2.6 GHz. It records a PassMark CPU Mark of 1572 and a single-thread rating of 1058. Its stated TDP is 45 W.

CPU Mark1,572
9 samples
Single Thread1,058
Overall rank#4,170
of 6,054
Reference price$116.15

Technical assessment

A summary based on specifications and results.

Outdated for demanding workloads
2.9Outdated for demanding workloads

AMD Athlon II X3 420e is a Desktop processor with 3 cores and 3 threads. Its base clock is 2.6 GHz. It records a PassMark CPU Mark of 1572 and a single-thread rating of 1058. Its stated TDP is 45 W.

Specification context

What do these specifications mean in practice?

The AMD Athlon II X3 420e is a Desktop released in 2011. Recorded specifications include 3 cores and 3 threads, a 45 W reference TDP, a 1,572 CPU Mark. Use these figures to understand its position, then compare the results with your software and the complete platform.

Reading guide

Read the performance results

The 1,572 CPU Mark is a broad overall-performance measure, while the 1,058 single-thread result adds context for less-parallel work. Compare the nearby alternatives on this page and do not treat one score as a verdict for every application.

Platform and compatibility

It uses socket AM3. A matching socket is only the first check; confirm the official motherboard CPU-support list, BIOS revision and board power limits.

Memory and power

The 45 W TDP helps size the cooling class, but it is not the same as peak wall-power consumption.

FAQ

Common processor questions

What are the key AMD Athlon II X3 420e specifications?

The main recorded details are 3 cores and 3 threads, a 45 W reference TDP, a 1,572 CPU Mark. The tables on this page show socket, memory, cache and graphics data when available.

Is the AMD Athlon II X3 420e good for gaming?

The product name or CPU Mark alone cannot answer that. Check single-thread performance, core count, the target graphics card, gaming resolution and results from the games you play.

Which motherboards support the AMD Athlon II X3 420e?

Start with AM3 motherboards, then confirm the official CPU-support list and required BIOS revision for the exact board before buying.

How much power does the AMD Athlon II X3 420e use?

The recorded reference TDP is 45 W. Real consumption can be lower or higher depending on power limits, motherboard, workload and cooling.

This guidance interprets recorded specifications and results; it does not claim hands-on device testing. Results can vary with motherboard, power, memory and cooling.

Multi-axis comparison

How does this processor compare?

A direct comparison with nearby processors from the same brand and a similar core count.

5 CPU

Overall and multi-core performance

A higher CPU Mark indicates stronger overall performance.

01AMD A6-6400B APUAMD1,573 points
02AMD Athlon II X3 420eThis CPU1,572 points
05AMD PRO A6-8570EAMD1,570 points

Single-thread performance

Measures speed in tasks that depend on one CPU thread.

01AMD A6-6400B APUAMD1,597 points
03AMD PRO A6-8570EAMD1,295 points
05AMD Athlon II X3 420eThis CPU1,058 points

Performance per watt

Estimated as CPU Mark divided by TDP.

03AMD PRO A6-8570EAMD44.9 Mark/W
04AMD Athlon II X3 420eThis CPU34.9 Mark/W
05AMD A6-6400B APUAMD24.2 Mark/W

Bars are relative to the processors shown here, not a global ranking of every CPU.

Detailed benchmark results

Snapshot from 2026-10-20

Data CompressionKBytes/Sec
33,765.00
Data EncryptionMBytes/Sec
449.70
Extended InstructionsMillion Matrices/Sec
805.00
Find Prime NumbersMillion Primes/Sec
7.00
Floating Point MathMOps/Sec
3,313.00
Integer MathMOps/Sec
4,633.00
PhysicsFrames/Sec
141.00
Random String SortingThousand Strings/Sec
4,083.00

Core specifications

BrandAMD
CategoryDesktop
Release year2011
SocketAM3
Cores / threads3 / 3
Base clock2.60 GHz
Max turbo—
TDP45 W
Integrated graphics—

Memory support

—
Memory type—
Official speed—
Maximum capacity—

Cache hierarchy

L1I3 x 64 KB
L1D3 x 64 KB
L23 x 512 KB