Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 5600+

2 / 2

1,665

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3110M

2 / 4

1,656

0.0%

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 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M 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 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M: 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 X2 5600+

2006

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 89W instead of 512W, a 423W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $505 MSRP, while Core i3-3110M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3110M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-3110M

2012

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon 64 X2 5600+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 X2 5600+ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,656 vs 1,665).
❌475.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 89W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 X2 5600+ better than Core i3-3110M?

Yes. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.9% 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 X2 5600+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 X2 5600+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $505 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-3110M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 5600+ vs Core i3-3110M Technical Specifications

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

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 100% 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 — 100% 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+100%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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.