Apple M2 | AMD Athlon II X3 420e | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Apple M2 and the AMD Athlon II X3 420e and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Apple M2 8 core processor released in Q2/2022 with the AMD Athlon II X3 420e which has 3 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2010. |
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Apple M series (25) | Family | AMD Athlon II (52) |
Apple M2 (8) | CPU group | AMD Athlon II X3 (Rana) (12) |
2 | Generation | 1 |
M2 | Architecture | Rana |
Mobile | Segment | Desktop / Server |
Apple M1 | Predecessor | -- |
Apple M3 | Successor | -- |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple M2 is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The AMD Athlon II X3 420e clocks with 2.60 GHz, has 3 CPU cores and can calculate 3 threads in parallel. |
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Apple M2 | Characteristic | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
8 | Cores | 3 |
8 | Threads | 3 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | normal |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz) 4x Avalanche |
A-Core | 2.60 GHz |
0.60 GHz (2.42 GHz) 4x Blizzard |
B-Core | -- |
NPU AI performanceThe performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. |
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Apple M2 | Characteristic | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
Apple Neural Engine | AI hardware | -- |
16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS | AI specifications | -- |
-- | NPU + CPU + iGPU | -- |
Integrated graphics (iGPU)Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback. |
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Apple M2 (10 Core) | GPU | no iGPU |
0.45 GHz | GPU frequency | -- |
1.40 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
2 | GPU Generation | -- |
5 nm | Technology | |
2 | Max. displays | |
160 | Compute units | -- |
1280 | Shader | -- |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
24 GB | Max. GPU Memory | -- |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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Apple M2 (10 Core) | GPU | no iGPU |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | No |
Decode | Codec VP8 | No |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | No |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | No |
Memory & PCIeUp to 24 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Apple M2, while the AMD Athlon II X3 420e supports a maximum of 16 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s enabled. |
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Apple M2 | Characteristic | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
LPDDR5-6400 | Memory | DDR3-1333 |
24 GB | Max. Memory | 16 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
102.4 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 21.3 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
20.00 MB | L2 Cache | 1.50 MB |
-- | L3 Cache | -- |
4.0 | PCIe version | 2.0 |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Apple M2 has a TDP of 20 W. The TDP of the AMD Athlon II X3 420e is 45 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Apple M2 | Characteristic | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
20 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 45 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
30 W | TDP up | -- |
10 W | TDP down | -- |
100 °C | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple M2 has 20.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 5 nm. The cache of AMD Athlon II X3 420e is at 1.50 MB. The processor is manufactured in 45 nm. |
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Apple M2 | Characteristic | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
5 nm | Technology | 45 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Unknown |
Armv8.5-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | x86-64 (64 bit) |
Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation | ISA extensions | MMX, 3DNow!, SSE3, SSE4a |
-- | Socket | AM3 |
Apple Virtualization Framework | Virtualization | AMD-V |
Yes | AES-NI | No |
macOS, iPadOS | Operating systems | Windows 10, Linux |
Q2/2022 | Release date | Q3/2010 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
Apple M2 (10 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
@ 0.00 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8,558 CB R23 MC @ 20 W |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
2.60 GHz |
Apple M2
8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz |
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AMD Athlon II X3 420e
3C 3T @ 2.60 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Apple M2 | AMD Athlon II X3 420e |
Apple MacBook Air 14 (2022) Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) |
Unknown |