Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Core i3-3110M
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is positioned at rank 1088 and the Core i3-3110M is on rank 917, so the Core i3-3110M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3110M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core i3-3110M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core i3-3110M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 X2 5600+ and Core i3-3110M
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,665 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-3110M
The Core i3-3110M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,656 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3110M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-3110M — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i3-3110M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ scores 1,665 against the Core i3-3110M's 1,656 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3110M.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core i3-3110M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+21% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 90 nm | 22 nm-76% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,665 | 1,656 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 424 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 846 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-3110M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3110M — the Core i3-3110M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3110M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) vs 16 (Core i3-3110M) — the Core i3-3110M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77 (Core i3-3110M).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core i3-3110M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) / VT-x (Core i3-3110M). The Core i3-3110M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3110M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3110M rivals AMD A8-4500M.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | Core i3-3110M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Laptop |
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