Athlon II P360 vs Pentium G3240

AMD

Athlon II P360

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2010
VS
Intel

Pentium G3240

2 Cores2 Thrd53 WW2014

Athlon II P360 vs Pentium G3240 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 P360 vs Pentium G3240 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 Pentium G3240: 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

  • Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Costs $29 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $89 MSRP).
  • Delivers 49.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.4 vs 21.7 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $89 MSRP).
  • Draws 1W instead of 53W, a 52W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium G3240

2014

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II P360 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (1,930 vs 1,946).
    • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.7 vs 32.4 PassMark/$ ($89 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
    • 5200% higher power demand at 53W vs 1W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon II P360 better than Pentium G3240?
    Yes. Athlon II P360 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Athlon II P360 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.7% 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, Athlon II P360 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Athlon II P360 is the better buy right now. Athlon II P360 comes in $29 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $89 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 49.6% better value on MSRP (32.4 vs 21.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Pentium G3240 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

    Athlon II P360 vs Pentium G3240 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    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.

    Intel

    Pentium G3240

    The Pentium G3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,930 points. Launch price was $69.

    Processing Power

    Both the Athlon II P360 and Pentium G3240 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. The Athlon II P360 is built on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II P360 scores 1,946 against the Pentium G3240's 1,930 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II P360.

    FeatureAthlon II P360Pentium G3240
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 2
    Boost Clock
    2.3 GHz
    Base Clock
    3.1 GHz
    L3 Cache
    3 MB Intel® Smart Cache
    L2 Cache
    1 MB
    Process
    45 nm
    22 nm-51%
    Architecture
    Champlain (2010−2011)
    PassMark
    1,946
    1,930
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon II P360 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3240 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon II P360Pentium G3240
    Socket
    S1g4
    LGA1150
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 3.0+50%
    Max RAM Speed
    1066
    Max RAM Capacity
    8
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: true (Athlon II P360) / not specified (Pentium G3240). Direct competitor: Athlon II P360 rivals Pentium P6000.

    FeatureAthlon II P360Pentium G3240
    Integrated GPU
    No
    IGPU Model
    None
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    true
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Athlon II P360 was priced at $60, while the Pentium G3240 came in at $89. On launch pricing ($60 vs $89), Athlon II P360 was $29 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II P360 delivers 32.4 pts/$ vs 21.7 pts/$ for the Pentium G3240 — making the Athlon II P360 the 39.7% better value option.

    FeatureAthlon II P360Pentium G3240
    MSRP
    $60-33%
    $89
    Performance per Dollar
    32.4+49%
    21.7
    Release Date
    2010
    2014

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