Athlon II N350 vs Core 2 Duo E8300

CPU

GPU

Athlon II N350

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Core 2 Duo E8300

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.83 GHz2008

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Athlon II N350 vs Core 2 Duo E8300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N350

2 / 2

1,045

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Duo E8300

2 / 2

1,039

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 II N350 vs Core 2 Duo E8300 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 N350 vs Core 2 Duo E8300: 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 N350

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $63 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $163 MSRP).
✅Delivers 63.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.4 vs 6.4 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $163 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (210 vs 345).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 771).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E8300.

Core 2 Duo E8300

2008

Why buy it

✅+64.3% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Athlon II N350.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.4 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($163 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
❌6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo E8300 better than Athlon II N350?

Yes. Core 2 Duo E8300 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 92.8% better Geekbench multi-core, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Duo E8300 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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 2 Duo E8300 is the stronger fit. You are getting 92.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Core 2 Duo E8300 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core 2 Duo E8300 comes in 63.0% more expensive on MSRP at $163 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II N350 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 63.9% better value on paper (10.4 vs 6.4 PassMark/$), 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 N350 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II N350 vs Core 2 Duo E8300 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N350

The Athlon II N350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 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: 1,045 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 2 Duo E8300

The Core 2 Duo E8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,039 points. Launch price was $249.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II N350 and Core 2 Duo E8300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II N350 versus 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300. The Athlon II N350 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8300 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N350 scores 1,045 against the Core 2 Duo E8300's 1,039 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II N350. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 210 vs 345, a 48.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 400 vs 771 (63.4% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core 2 Duo E8300
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	2.83 GHz+18%
Base Clock	—	2.83 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	6 MB (total)+500%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Wolfdale (2008−2010)
PassMark	1,045	1,039
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	1,000
Geekbench 6 Single	210	345+64%
Geekbench 6 Multi	400	771+93%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N350 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II N350 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8300 — the Core 2 Duo E8300 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E8300 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N350) vs 16 (Core 2 Duo E8300) — the Core 2 Duo E8300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N350) and P35,P45,G33,G31 (Core 2 Duo E8300).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core 2 Duo E8300
Socket	S1	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR3-1333+25%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II N350) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300). Primary use case: Athlon II N350 targets Legacy Laptop, Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II N350 rivals Pentium P6100.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core 2 Duo E8300
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N350 was priced at $100, while the Core 2 Duo E8300 came in at $163. On launch pricing ($100 vs $163), Athlon II N350 was $63 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N350 delivers 10.4 pts/$ vs 6.4 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8300 — making the Athlon II N350 the 48.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core 2 Duo E8300
MSRP	$100-39%	$163
Performance per Dollar	10.4+63%	6.4
Release Date	2010	2008

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