CPU
GPU
Athlon II X3 440
Athlon X2 L310
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X3 440 is positioned at rank 722 and the Athlon X2 L310 is on rank 933, so the Athlon II X3 440 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 440
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 L310
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conesus (2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+100%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X3 440 and Athlon X2 L310
Athlon II X3 440
The Athlon II X3 440 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,743 points. Launch price was $47.
Athlon X2 L310
The Athlon X2 L310 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Conesus (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,747 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 440 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Athlon X2 L310 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 440 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 440 versus 1.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 L310 — a 85.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 440. The Athlon II X3 440 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X2 L310 uses Conesus (2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 440 scores 1,743 against the Athlon X2 L310's 1,747 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X2 L310.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+150% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Conesus (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,743 | 1,747 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 120 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 213 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 440 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 L310 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 440 versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 L310 — the Athlon II X3 440 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 440 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 440) and Socket S1 (Athlon X2 L310).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+700% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 440) / Yes (Athlon X2 L310). Primary use case: Athlon X2 L310 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 440 launched at $75 MSRP, while the Athlon X2 L310 debuted at $100. At current prices ($10 vs $20), the Athlon II X3 440 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 440 delivers 174.3 pts/$ vs 87.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X2 L310 — making the Athlon II X3 440 the 66.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 440 | Athlon X2 L310 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-25% | $100 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-50% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 174.3+100% | 87.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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