Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-3110M

Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-3110M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 435

3 / 3

1,645

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-3110M

2 / 4

1,656

+0.7%

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 435 vs Core i3-3110M 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 435 vs Core i3-3110M: 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 435

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-3110M.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,645 vs 1,656).
❌Launch MSRP is still $87 MSRP, while Core i3-3110M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-3110M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-3110M

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II X3 435 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 435.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 435 better than Core i3-3110M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 435 is ahead with a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-3110M pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-3110M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 435 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 435 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $87 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i3-3110M is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-3110M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-3110M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 435

The Athlon II X3 435 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,645 points. Launch price was $160.

Core i3-3110M

The Core i3-3110M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,656 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 435 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-3110M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 435 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X3 435 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-3110M — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 435 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon II X3 435 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3110M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 435 scores 1,645 against the Core i3-3110M's 1,656 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-3110M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 435 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3110M.

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-3110M
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+21%	2.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+21%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,645	1,656
Geekbench 6 Single	—	424
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	846

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 435 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3110M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 435 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3110M — the Core i3-3110M supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3110M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3 (Athlon II X3 435) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77 (Core i3-3110M).

Feature	Athlon II X3 435	Core i3-3110M
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 435) vs VT-x (Core i3-3110M). The Core i3-3110M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X3 435 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3110M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3110M rivals AMD A8-4500M.