Athlon II N370 vs Core i3-350M

CPU

GPU

Athlon II N370

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Core i3-350M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 0.27 GHz2010

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Athlon II N370 vs Core i3-350M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N370

2 / 2

1,085

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-350M

2 / 4

1,088

+0.3%

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 N370 vs Core i3-350M 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 N370 vs Core i3-350M: 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 N370

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $70 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Delivers 116.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 18.1 vs 8.4 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (220 vs 280).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (420 vs 650).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-350M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-350M

2010

Why buy it

✅+27.3% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Athlon II N370 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.4 vs 18.1 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-350M better than Athlon II N370?

Yes. Core i3-350M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 54.8% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.3% higher 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 i3-350M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.5% 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 i3-350M is the stronger fit. You are getting 54.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-350M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-350M comes in 116.7% more expensive on MSRP at $130 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II N370 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 116.1% better value on paper (18.1 vs 8.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i3-350M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 N370 vs Core i3-350M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N370

The Athlon II N370 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: 2.5 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: 1,085 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-350M

The Core i3-350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.27 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,088 points. Launch price was $130.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II N370 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-350M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II N370 versus 0.27 GHz on the Core i3-350M — a 161% clock advantage for the Athlon II N370. The Athlon II N370 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-350M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N370 scores 1,085 against the Core i3-350M's 1,088 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-350M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 220 vs 280, a 24% lead for the Core i3-350M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 420 vs 650 (43% advantage for the Core i3-350M).

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i3-350M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz+826%	0.27 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.26 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,085	1,088
Geekbench 6 Single	220	280+27%
Geekbench 6 Multi	420	650+55%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N370 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-350M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N370) vs 16 (Core i3-350M) — the Core i3-350M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N370) and HM55,HM57 (Core i3-350M).

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i3-350M
Socket	S1	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II N370) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-350M). The Core i3-350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II N370 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II N370 targets Legacy Laptop, Core i3-350M targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N370 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i3-350M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i3-350M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	Entry Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N370 was priced at $60, while the Core i3-350M came in at $130. On launch pricing ($60 vs $130), Athlon II N370 was $70 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N370 delivers 18.1 pts/$ vs 8.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-350M — making the Athlon II N370 the 73.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N370	Core i3-350M
MSRP	$60-54%	$130
Performance per Dollar	18.1+115%	8.4
Release Date	2010	2010

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