Athlon II P360 vs Core i3-3220T

CPU

GPU

Athlon II P360

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2010

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Core i3-3220T

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2012

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Athlon II P360 vs Core i3-3220T Performance Spectrum

Athlon II P360

2 / 2

1,946

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3220T

2 / 4

1,953

+0.4%

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 P360 vs Core i3-3220T 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 P360 vs Core i3-3220T: 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 P360

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $89 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 147.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.4 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,946 vs 1,953).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3220T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-3220T.

Core i3-3220T

2012

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 2500, while Athlon II P360 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II P360.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 32.4 PassMark/$ ($149 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-3220T better than Athlon II P360?

Yes. Core i3-3220T is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.1% 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 i3-3220T is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.1% 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 i3-3220T 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 i3-3220T is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-3220T comes in 148.3% more expensive on MSRP at $149 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II P360 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 147.4% better value on paper (32.4 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1g4.

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

Core i3-3220T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 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 P360 vs Core i3-3220T Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II P360

The Athlon II P360 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: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,946 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-3220T

The Core i3-3220T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,953 points. Launch price was $201.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II P360 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3220T's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II P360 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-3220T — a 19.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220T. The Athlon II P360 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3220T uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II P360 scores 1,946 against the Core i3-3220T's 1,953 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-3220T.

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i3-3220T
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	2.8 GHz+22%
Base Clock	—	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,946	1,953
Geekbench 6 Single	—	465

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II P360 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3220T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II P360 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3220T — the Core i3-3220T supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3220T supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II P360) vs 16 (Core i3-3220T) — the Core i3-3220T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II P360) and B75,Z75,Z77,H77,Q75,Q77,H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-3220T).

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i3-3220T
Socket	S1g4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1066	DDR3-1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II P360) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220T). The Core i3-3220T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Athlon II P360 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II P360 rivals Pentium P6000; Core i3-3220T rivals A8-5500.

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i3-3220T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	HD Graphics 2500
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, EPT
Target Use	—	Low Power Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II P360 was priced at $60, while the Core i3-3220T came in at $149. On launch pricing ($60 vs $149), Athlon II P360 was $89 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II P360 delivers 32.4 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-3220T — making the Athlon II P360 the 84.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II P360	Core i3-3220T
MSRP	$60-60%	$149
Performance per Dollar	32.4+147%	13.1
Release Date	2010	2012

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