Athlon II M340 vs Celeron N3350

AMD

Athlon II M340

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron N3350

2 Cores2 Thrd6 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2016
Similar parts
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Athlon II M340 vs Celeron N3350 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 Celeron N3350 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 Celeron N3350: 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

  • +243.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • Costs $27 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • Delivers 34.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 13.9 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • Draws 1W instead of 6W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3350 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3350

2016

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (6 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 500, while Athlon II M340 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (250 vs 858).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (450 vs 1,500).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 13.9 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
  • 500% higher power demand at 6W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II M340 better than Celeron N3350?
Yes. Athlon II M340 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 233.3% better Geekbench multi-core and 0.3% 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 243.2% 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 233.3% 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 the better buy right now. Athlon II M340 comes in $27 cheaper on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% higher PassMark. It is also 34.1% better value on MSRP (13.9 vs 10.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron N3350 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II M340 vs Celeron N3350 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.

Intel

Celeron N3350

The Celeron N3350 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,112 points. Launch price was $24.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II M340 and Celeron N3350 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II M340 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron N3350 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Celeron N3350. The Athlon II M340 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N3350 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M340 scores 1,115 against the Celeron N3350's 1,112 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II M340. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 858 vs 250, a 109.7% lead for the Athlon II M340 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,500 vs 450 (107.7% advantage for the Athlon II M340).

FeatureAthlon II M340Celeron N3350
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.2 GHz
2.4 GHz+9%
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
1 MB
Process
45 nm
14 nm-69%
Architecture
Caspian (2009)
Apollo Lake (2014−2016)
PassMark
1,115
1,112
Geekbench 6 Single
858+243%
250
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,500+233%
450
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M340 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3350 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M340 versus LPDDR4-2400 on the Celeron N3350 — the Celeron N3350 supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M340) vs 6 (Celeron N3350) — the Celeron N3350 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M (Athlon II M340) and SoC (Celeron N3350).

FeatureAthlon II M340Celeron N3350
Socket
S1g3
FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800
LPDDR4-2400+200%
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
6
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II M340) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Celeron N3350). The Celeron N3350 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Athlon II M340 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II M340 targets Laptop, Celeron N3350 targets Entry Level Laptop/NUC. Direct competitor: Celeron N3350 rivals AMD A4-9120.

FeatureAthlon II M340Celeron N3350
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics 500
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Laptop
Entry Level Laptop/NUC
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II M340 was priced at $80, while the Celeron N3350 came in at $107. On launch pricing ($80 vs $107), Athlon II M340 was $27 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M340 delivers 13.9 pts/$ vs 10.4 pts/$ for the Celeron N3350 — making the Athlon II M340 the 29.1% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II M340Celeron N3350
MSRP
$80-25%
$107
Performance per Dollar
13.9+34%
10.4
Release Date
2009
2016

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