Athlon II X3 420e vs Core i3-2340UE

Athlon II X3 420e vs Core i3-2340UE Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 420e

3 / 3

1,557

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2340UE

2 / 4

1,545

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 X3 420e vs Core i3-2340UE 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 X3 420e vs Core i3-2340UE: 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 X3 420e

2010

Why buy it

✅+36.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $93 less on MSRP ($107 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅Delivers 88.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 14.6 vs 7.7 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Core i3-2340UE.

Trade-offs

❌164.7% higher power demand at 45W vs 17W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2340UE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-2340UE

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 45W, a 28W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon II X3 420e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (230 vs 314).
❌Lower PassMark (1,545 vs 1,557).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.7 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 420e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 420e better than Core i3-2340UE?

Yes. Athlon II X3 420e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 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 X3 420e is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X3 420e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 420e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 420e comes in $93 cheaper on MSRP at $107 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 88.4% better value on MSRP (14.6 vs 7.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-2340UE 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 X3 420e vs Core i3-2340UE Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 420e

The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.

Core i3-2340UE

The Core i3-2340UE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,545 points. Launch price was $250.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 420e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2340UE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e versus 1.3 GHz on the Core i3-2340UE — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e. The Athlon II X3 420e uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2340UE uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 420e scores 1,557 against the Core i3-2340UE's 1,545 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 314 vs 230, a 30.9% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2340UE.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i3-2340UE
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+100%	1.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,557	1,545
Geekbench 6 Single	314+37%	230
Geekbench 6 Multi	880	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 420e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2340UE uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e) and HM65,QM67 (Core i3-2340UE).

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i3-2340UE
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2340UE). The Core i3-2340UE includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop, Core i3-2340UE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e; Core i3-2340UE rivals Embedded G-Series.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i3-2340UE
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, EPT
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	Embedded

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 420e was priced at $107, while the Core i3-2340UE came in at $200. On launch pricing ($107 vs $200), Athlon II X3 420e was $93 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 420e delivers 14.6 pts/$ vs 7.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-2340UE — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 61.3% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 420e	Core i3-2340UE
MSRP	$107-47%	$200
Performance per Dollar	14.6+90%	7.7
Release Date	2010	2011

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