Athlon II P340 vs Core i3-3130M

Athlon II P340 vs Core i3-3130M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II P340

2 / 2

1,895

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3130M

2 / 4

1,906

+0.6%

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 P340 vs Core i3-3130M 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 P340 vs Core i3-3130M: 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 P340

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,895 vs 1,906).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3130M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-3130M

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II P340 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while Athlon II P340 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-3130M better than Athlon II P340?

Yes. Core i3-3130M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% 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 i3-3130M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.9% 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 i3-3130M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-3130M is the better buy right now. Core i3-3130M comes in at an unclear MSRP at $225 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-3130M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and 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 P340 vs Core i3-3130M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II P340

The Athlon II P340 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: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,895 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-3130M

The Core i3-3130M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,906 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II P340 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3130M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II P340 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-3130M — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-3130M. The Athlon II P340 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3130M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II P340 scores 1,895 against the Core i3-3130M's 1,906 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-3130M.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i3-3130M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.6 GHz+18%
Base Clock	—	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,895	1,906

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II P340 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3130M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II P340 versus 1600 on the Core i3-3130M — the Core i3-3130M supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3130M supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 8 — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II P340) vs 16 (Core i3-3130M) — the Core i3-3130M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II P340) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i3-3130M).

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i3-3130M
Socket	S1g4	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1066	1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	8	32+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Core i3-3130M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II P340 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II P340 rivals Pentium P6000; Core i3-3130M rivals AMD A8-4500M.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i3-3130M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	true

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II P340 was priced at $0, while the Core i3-3130M came in at $225. On launch pricing ($0 vs $225), Athlon II P340 was $225 cheaper.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i3-3130M
MSRP	$0-100%	$225
Performance per Dollar	—	8.5
Release Date	2010	2013

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