Athlon II M340 vs Core 2 Extreme X6800

AMD

Athlon II M340

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core 2 Extreme X6800

2 Cores2 Thrd75 WWMax: 0.93 GHz2006
Similar parts
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Athlon II M340 vs Core 2 Extreme X6800 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 Core 2 Extreme X6800 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 Core 2 Extreme X6800: 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

  • Draws 1W instead of 75W, a 74W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,115 vs 1,118).
  • Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Core 2 Extreme X6800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core 2 Extreme X6800

2006

Why buy it

  • +0.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • 7400% higher power demand at 75W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II M340 better than Core 2 Extreme X6800?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II M340 is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Extreme X6800 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Extreme X6800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, 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 at an unclear MSRP at $80 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core 2 Extreme X6800 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II M340 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II M340 vs Core 2 Extreme X6800 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

Core 2 Extreme X6800

The Core 2 Extreme X6800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 July 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Conroe XE (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.933 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 75 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,118 points. Launch price was $999.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II M340 and Core 2 Extreme X6800 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II M340 versus 0.93 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X6800 — a 81.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II M340. The Athlon II M340 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Extreme X6800 uses Conroe XE (2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M340 scores 1,115 against the Core 2 Extreme X6800's 1,118 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Extreme X6800.

FeatureAthlon II M340Core 2 Extreme X6800
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.2 GHz+137%
0.93 GHz
Base Clock
2.933 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
4 MB (total)+300%
Process
45 nm-31%
65 nm
Architecture
Caspian (2009)
Conroe XE (2006)
PassMark
1,115
1,118
Geekbench 6 Single
858
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,500
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II M340 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Extreme X6800 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II M340Core 2 Extreme X6800
Socket
S1g3
LGA775
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0+82%
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II M340) / not specified (Core 2 Extreme X6800). Primary use case: Athlon II M340 targets Laptop.

FeatureAthlon II M340Core 2 Extreme X6800
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Laptop