A10-4657M vs Athlon X2 L310

AMD

A10-4657M

4 Cores4 Thrd4 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2013
VS
AMD

Athlon X2 L310

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2009

A10-4657M vs Athlon X2 L310 Performance Spectrum

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.

A10-4657M vs Athlon X2 L310 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A10-4657M vs Athlon X2 L310: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A10-4657M

2013

Why buy it

  • βœ…+275% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7660G, while Athlon X2 L310 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌300% higher power demand at 4W vs 1W.

Athlon X2 L310

2009

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 1W instead of 4W, a 3W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (120 vs 450).
  • ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (213 vs 1,200).
  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while A10-4657M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while A10-4657M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A10-4657M better than Athlon X2 L310?
Yes. A10-4657M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 463.4% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.7% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, A10-4657M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A10-4657M is the stronger fit. You are getting 463.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A10-4657M is still the much better call for a fresh build. A10-4657M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon X2 L310 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (17.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A10-4657M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A10-4657M vs Athlon X2 L310 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A10-4657M

The A10-4657M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012βˆ’2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,759 points. Launch price was $130.

AMD

Athlon X2 L310

The Athlon X2 L310 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Conesus (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,747 points. Launch price was $149.

⚑

Processing Power

The A10-4657M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X2 L310 offers 2 cores / 2 threads β€” the A10-4657M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the A10-4657M versus 1.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 L310 β€” a 90.9% clock advantage for the A10-4657M. The A10-4657M uses the Trinity (2012βˆ’2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 L310 uses Conesus (2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the A10-4657M scores 1,759 against the Athlon X2 L310's 1,747 β€” a 0.7% lead for the A10-4657M. Geekbench 6 single-core β€” the metric most relevant to gaming β€” records 450 vs 120, a 115.8% lead for the A10-4657M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,200 vs 213 (139.7% advantage for the A10-4657M).

FeatureA10-4657MAthlon X2 L310
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz+167%
1.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.3 GHz
β€”
L2 Cache
4 MB+300%
1 MB
Process
32 nm-51%
65 nm
Architecture
Trinity (2012βˆ’2013)
Conesus (2009)
PassMark
1,759
1,747
Geekbench 6 Single
450+275%
120
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,200+463%
213
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A10-4657M uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X2 L310 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the A10-4657M versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 L310 β€” the A10-4657M supports 139.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A10-4657M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB β€” 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A10-4657M) vs 0 (Athlon X2 L310) β€” the A10-4657M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureA10-4657MAthlon X2 L310
Socket
BGA
S1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600+140%
DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB+700%
4 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A10-4657M) vs Yes (Athlon X2 L310). The A10-4657M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7660G), while the Athlon X2 L310 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-4657M targets Laptop, Athlon X2 L310 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: A10-4657M rivals Core i3-2330M.

FeatureA10-4657MAthlon X2 L310
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 7660G
β€”
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Yes
Target Use
Laptop
Mobile