Athlon II Neo K345 vs Core i3-2312M
Athlon II Neo K345
Core i3-2312M
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II Neo K345 is positioned at rank 812 and the Core i3-2312M is on rank 1200, so the Athlon II Neo K345 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II Neo K345
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2312M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2154%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II Neo K345 and Core i3-2312M
Athlon II Neo K345
The Athlon II Neo K345 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: 1.4 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: 1,191 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-2312M
The Core i3-2312M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 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: 1,189 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Athlon II Neo K345 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2312M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K345 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-2312M — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i3-2312M. The Athlon II Neo K345 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2312M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K345 scores 1,191 against the Core i3-2312M's 1,189 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II Neo K345.
| Feature | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.1 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,191 | 1,189 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 731 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II Neo K345 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2312M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II Neo K345 versus 1333 on the Core i3-2312M — the Core i3-2312M supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2312M supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II Neo K345) vs 16 (Core i3-2312M) — the Core i3-2312M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB2 (Athlon II Neo K345) and HM65,HM67,QM67 (Core i3-2312M).
| Feature | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+26214300% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II Neo K345) / true (Core i3-2312M). The Core i3-2312M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II Neo K345 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II Neo K345 launched at $50 MSRP, while the Core i3-2312M debuted at $225.
| Feature | Athlon II Neo K345 | Core i3-2312M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-78% | $225 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | — |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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