Athlon II M300 vs Core i3-3120M

Athlon II M300 vs Core i3-3120M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II M300

2 / 2

1,700

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3120M

2 / 4

1,709

+0.5%

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 II M300 vs Core i3-3120M 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 II M300 vs Core i3-3120M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II M300

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,700 vs 1,709).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i3-3120M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3120M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-3120M

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 II M300 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-3120M better than Athlon II M300?

Yes. Core i3-3120M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better 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, Core i3-3120M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.8% 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, Core i3-3120M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-3120M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-3120M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II M300 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (17.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1g3.

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

Core i3-3120M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 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.

Athlon II M300 vs Core i3-3120M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II M300

The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-3120M

The Core i3-3120M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 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: 1,709 points. Launch price was $160.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II M300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3120M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-3120M — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-3120M. The Athlon II M300 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3120M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M300 scores 1,700 against the Core i3-3120M's 1,709 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-3120M.

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i3-3120M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2 GHz	2.5 GHz+25%
Base Clock	—	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Caspian (2009)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,700	1,709
Geekbench 6 Single	—	440
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	930

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M300 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3120M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Athlon II M300 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3120M — the Core i3-3120M supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3120M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M300) vs 16 (Core i3-3120M) — the Core i3-3120M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g3 (Athlon II M300) and HM76,HM77 (Core i3-3120M).

Feature	Athlon II M300	Core i3-3120M
Socket	S1g3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	800	DDR3-1600+100%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II M300) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-3120M). The Core i3-3120M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II M300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3120M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400; Core i3-3120M rivals AMD A8-4500M.