Athlon II P340 vs Core i7-2637M

Athlon II P340 vs Core i7-2637M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II P340

2 / 2

1,895

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-2637M

2 / 4

1,889

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 P340 vs Core i7-2637M 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 i7-2637M: 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

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 17W, a 16W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-2637M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-2637M

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon II P340 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,889 vs 1,895).
❌Launch MSRP is still $289 MSRP, while Athlon II P340 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1600% higher power demand at 17W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2637M better than Athlon II P340?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-2637M is ahead with a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II P340 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II P340 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Core i7-2637M is the better buy right now. Core i7-2637M comes in at an unclear MSRP at $289 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon II P340 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-2637M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II P340 vs Core i7-2637M 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 i7-2637M

The Core i7-2637M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,889 points. Launch price was $289.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II P340 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-2637M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II P340 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i7-2637M — a 24% clock advantage for the Core i7-2637M. The Athlon II P340 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-2637M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II P340 scores 1,895 against the Core i7-2637M's 1,889 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II P340.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i7-2637M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.8 GHz+27%
Base Clock	—	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	—	4 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,895	1,889
Geekbench 6 Single	—	350
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	628

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II P340 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-2637M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II P340 versus 1333 on the Core i7-2637M — the Core i7-2637M supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II P340) vs 16 (Core i7-2637M) — the Core i7-2637M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II P340) and HM65,HM67,QM67 (Core i7-2637M).

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i7-2637M
Socket	S1g4	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1066	1333+25%
Max RAM Capacity	8	8
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Core i7-2637M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II P340 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II P340 rivals Pentium P6000.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i7-2637M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Intel HD Graphics 3000
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 i7-2637M came in at $289. On launch pricing ($0 vs $289), Athlon II P340 was $289 cheaper.

Feature	Athlon II P340	Core i7-2637M
MSRP	$0-100%	$289
Performance per Dollar	—	6.5
Release Date	2010	2011

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