Athlon II Neo K345 vs Core i7-680UM

AMD

Athlon II Neo K345

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i7-680UM

2 Cores4 Thrd18 WWMax: 2.53 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon II Neo K345 vs Core i7-680UM 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 Neo K345 vs Core i7-680UM 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 Neo K345 vs Core i7-680UM: 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 Neo K345

2010

Why buy it

  • Draws 1W instead of 18W, a 17W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,191 vs 1,196).
  • Launch MSRP is still $50 MSRP, while Core i7-680UM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-680UM

2010

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • 1700% higher power demand at 18W vs 1W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core i7-680UM better than Athlon II Neo K345?
    Yes. Core i7-680UM is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better 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 i7-680UM is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.4% 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 i7-680UM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core i7-680UM is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i7-680UM comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $50 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II Neo K345 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (23.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-680UM 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 Neo K345 vs Core i7-680UM Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    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.

    Intel

    Core i7-680UM

    The Core i7-680UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.46 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,196 points. Launch price was $317.

    Processing Power

    The Athlon II Neo K345 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-680UM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K345 versus 2.53 GHz on the Core i7-680UM — a 57.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-680UM. The Athlon II Neo K345 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-680UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K345 scores 1,191 against the Core i7-680UM's 1,196 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-680UM.

    FeatureAthlon II Neo K345Core i7-680UM
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 4
    Boost Clock
    1.4 GHz
    2.53 GHz+81%
    Base Clock
    1.46 GHz
    L3 Cache
    4 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    1 MB+300%
    256 kB (per core)
    Process
    45 nm
    32 nm-29%
    Architecture
    Champlain (2010−2011)
    Arrandale (2010−2011)
    PassMark
    1,191
    1,196
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon II Neo K345 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-680UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon II Neo K345Core i7-680UM
    Socket
    S1
    BGA1288
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 2.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR3-1066
    Max RAM Capacity
    4 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0