Final Words

We'll start with the good news first. The Athlon II X3 435, priced at $87, is a better buy than any of the similarly priced Intel dual-core processors. In heavily threaded applications it's even faster than the more expensive Core 2 Duo E7500. Compared to Intel, the X3 435 is a clear value leader.

The problem is compared to AMD, the Athlon II X3 435 isn't that impressive. The Athlon II X4 620 is faster in nearly every multithreaded benchmark, and it's only costs $12 more. It's only in games and other lightly threaded applications where the 435's higher default clock speed makes up for its lack of a fourth core.

The Athlon II X3 435 is about $15 more expensive than it should be to make sense in AMD's lineup. It's a great step between the dual and quad-core options, but if you need the performance you're probably better off with the 620.

You do get better overclocking potential (thanks to lower thermal output of only three cores), but bring overclocking into the mix and you can narrow the clock speed gap with an overclocked 620.

Compared to Intel, I like the Athlon II X3 435. Compared to AMD, I'd take a quad-core 620.

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  • hob196 - Thursday, October 22, 2009 - link

    Any thoughts on whether different memory speed has a greater effect on chips with no L3?
  • jjpmann - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link

    How would the X4 620 compare clocked at the same speed as the X4 605e?
  • wolfman3k5 - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link

    I like the review, and I like the new products from AMD/ATI.

    That being said, I've read the posts. How many retards actually post here? Some of the comments are clearly unintelligent and stupid and bellow the standards of this website.

    READ THIS: SOME OF YOU BLOODY IDIOTS BEHAVE LIKE RETARDS!!! STOP POSTING RUBBISH!!!
  • maddoctor - Friday, October 23, 2009 - link

    Hey. Insist on Intel Inside. Intel Inside PC is powerful and intelligent. Other than that are rubbish.
  • fsdetained - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link

    I found it funny how Intel has only one cpu under 65w tdp for desktops on newegg and its a 1.8ghz single core celeron while AMD is about to release six at 45w tdp that will easily outperform it along with the two they already have out at 45w tdp.
  • Accord99 - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link

    It's just a general figure that's unnecessarily overrated for the C2D. All the dual-cores would fit within a 35W TDP and most the C2Q would fit within a 65W TDP.
  • maddoctor - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link

    No, Intel products are outsold and AMD processors can not sold because its products are rubbish in the eye of the consumers.
  • SunSamurai - Sunday, November 1, 2009 - link

    http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=96&a...">http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=96&a...

    Oh look a cheaper AMD CPU outperforming a more expensive Intel CPU

    SUCK ON IT.

    You're rubbish in the eyes of everyone here.
  • jtleon - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - link

    After diggin through all of Maddoctor's delightful and humorous comments, I find myself asking this question...

    Why does HP, Dell, Gateway, Acer, Lenovo, and all other PC makers choose to offer ANY AMD products in their portfolios?

    I think Maddoctor forgets that those in business of making computers can make MORE profit using AMD than they can make using Intel. After all, PROFIT is the driving force of business.

    Joe public does not care what CPU is working for him, as long as the job gets done, in a reasonable amount of time. Joe Public could care less if he has supercomputing capabilities...for his VIDEO GAME.

    I am pwning plenty of i7's, Q6600's, E8500's, Phenoms, etc. with my lowly dual P3 box running the AGP port. The fact remains, 99% of computer users on this planet could care less who (AMD or Intel) is running their applications, as long as they pay next to nothing for the computer.

    Even Maddoctor can understand this fact.

    Regards,
    jtleon

  • stmok - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - link

    Why does HP, Dell, Gateway, Acer, Lenovo, and all other PC makers choose to offer ANY AMD products in their portfolios?

    The European Commission can answer that one for you.
    => http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/ICT/intel....">http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/ICT/intel....

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