Athlon 64 3100+ vs Pentium M 745

AMD

Athlon 64 3100+

1 Cores1 Thrd25 WWMax: 2 GHz2008
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium M 745

1 Cores1 Thrd21 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2004
Similar parts
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Athlon 64 3100+ vs Pentium M 745 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.

Athlon 64 3100+ vs Pentium M 745 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.

Athlon 64 3100+ vs Pentium M 745: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 3100+

2008

Why buy it

  • +180% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Pentium M 745 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 19% higher power demand at 25W vs 21W.

Pentium M 745

2004

Why buy it

  • Draws 21W instead of 25W, a 4W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (100 vs 280).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (100 vs 280).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 3100+ better than Pentium M 745?
Yes. Athlon 64 3100+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 180% better Geekbench multi-core, 2.2% 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, Athlon 64 3100+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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, Athlon 64 3100+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 180% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon 64 3100+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 3100+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (4.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon 64 3100+ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2004) and more multi-core headroom with 1 cores / 1 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 64 3100+ vs Pentium M 745 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon 64 3100+

The Athlon 64 3100+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lima (2008−2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 475 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Pentium M 745

The Pentium M 745 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 465 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 3100+ and Pentium M 745 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3100+ versus 1.8 GHz on the Pentium M 745 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3100+. The Athlon 64 3100+ uses the Lima (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium M 745 uses Dothan (2004−2005) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3100+ scores 475 against the Pentium M 745's 465 — a 2.1% lead for the Athlon 64 3100+. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 280 vs 100, a 94.7% lead for the Athlon 64 3100+ that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 280 vs 100 (94.7% advantage for the Athlon 64 3100+).

FeatureAthlon 64 3100+Pentium M 745
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
1 / 1
Boost Clock
2 GHz+11%
1.8 GHz
Base Clock
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
512K+25500%
2 MB
Process
65 nm-28%
90 nm
Architecture
Lima (2008−2009)
Dothan (2004−2005)
PassMark
475+2%
465
Geekbench 6 Single
280+180%
100
Geekbench 6 Multi
280+180%
100
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 3100+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium M 745 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3100+ versus DDR2 on the Pentium M 745 — the Athlon 64 3100+ supports 39900% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 3100+ supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 3100+) vs 1 (Pentium M 745). PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon 64 3100+) vs 0 (Pentium M 745) — the Athlon 64 3100+ offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: nForce 500,AMD 690G (Athlon 64 3100+) and Intel 855GME,Intel 855PM (Pentium M 745).

FeatureAthlon 64 3100+Pentium M 745
Socket
AM2
PGA478
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0+82%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800+39900%
DDR2
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB+100%
2 GB
RAM Channels
2+100%
1
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 64 3100+) vs false (Pentium M 745). Primary use case: Athlon 64 3100+ targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 64 3100+ rivals Celeron D 352.

FeatureAthlon 64 3100+Pentium M 745
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
false
Target Use
Legacy Desktop