Athlon II M340 vs Athlon II Neo K325

AMD

Athlon II M340

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon II M340 vs Athlon II Neo K325 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 II M340 vs Athlon II Neo K325 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 M340 vs Athlon II Neo K325: 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 M340

2009

Why buy it

  • +16.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.9 vs 18.5 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).

Athlon II Neo K325

2010

Why buy it

  • Costs $20 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
  • Delivers 32.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.5 vs 13.9 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (736 vs 858).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,235 vs 1,500).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II M340 better than Athlon II Neo K325?
Yes. Athlon II M340 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 21.5% better Geekbench multi-core and 0.4% higher PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon II M340 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 16.6% stronger Geekbench single-core performance.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II M340 is the stronger fit. You are getting 21.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II M340 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II M340 comes in 33.3% more expensive on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% higher PassMark. Athlon II Neo K325 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 32.9% better value on paper (18.5 vs 13.9 PassMark/$), 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?
Athlon II Neo K325 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II M340 vs Athlon II Neo K325 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II M340

The Athlon II M340 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: 2.2 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: 1,115 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

The Athlon II Neo K325 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,111 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II M340 and Athlon II Neo K325 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II M340 versus 1.3 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K325 — a 51.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II M340. The Athlon II M340 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II Neo K325 uses Geneva (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M340 scores 1,115 against the Athlon II Neo K325's 1,111 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II M340. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 858 vs 736, a 15.3% lead for the Athlon II M340 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,500 vs 1,235 (19.4% advantage for the Athlon II M340).

FeatureAthlon II M340Athlon II Neo K325
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.2 GHz+69%
1.3 GHz
L2 Cache
1 MB
1 MB
Process
45 nm
45 nm
Architecture
Caspian (2009)
Geneva (2010)
PassMark
1,115
1,111
Geekbench 6 Single
858+17%
736
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,500+21%
1,235
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M340 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II Neo K325 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-800 memory speed. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RS880M (Athlon II M340) and M880G (Athlon II Neo K325).

FeatureAthlon II M340Athlon II Neo K325
Socket
S1g3
S1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800
DDR3-800
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon II M340 targets Laptop, Athlon II Neo K325 targets Low Power.

FeatureAthlon II M340Athlon II Neo K325
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
Laptop
Low Power
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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II M340 was priced at $80, while the Athlon II Neo K325 came in at $60. On launch pricing ($80 vs $60), Athlon II Neo K325 was $20 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M340 delivers 13.9 pts/$ vs 18.5 pts/$ for the Athlon II Neo K325 — making the Athlon II Neo K325 the 28.2% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II M340Athlon II Neo K325
MSRP
$80
$60-25%
Performance per Dollar
13.9
18.5+33%
Release Date
2009
2010

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