Athlon II X3 450 vs Core i3-2377M

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X3 450

3 Cores3 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Core i3-2377M

2 Cores4 Thrd17 WWMax: 1.5 GHz2012

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Athlon II X3 450 vs Core i3-2377M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 450

3 / 3

1,865

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2377M

2 / 4

1,850

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 450 vs Core i3-2377M 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 450 vs Core i3-2377M: 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 450

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $163 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 189.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.4 vs 7.4 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Core i3-2377M.

Trade-offs

❌458.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 17W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2377M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-2377M

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 95W, a 78W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon II X3 450 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X3 450 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (546 vs 980).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.4 vs 21.4 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 450.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 450 better than Core i3-2377M?

Yes. Athlon II X3 450 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 79.5% better Geekbench multi-core, and 0.8% higher 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 450 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.0% 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 X3 450 is the stronger fit. You are getting 79.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 450 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 450 comes in $163 cheaper on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 189.7% better value on MSRP (21.4 vs 7.4 PassMark/$), 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 i3-2377M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 450 vs Core i3-2377M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 450

The Athlon II X3 450 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.

Core i3-2377M

The Core i3-2377M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 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: 1,850 points. Launch price was $250.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 450 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2377M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-2377M — a 72.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X3 450 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2377M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 450 scores 1,865 against the Core i3-2377M's 1,850 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 450. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 380 vs 238, a 46% lead for the Athlon II X3 450 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 980 vs 546 (56.9% advantage for the Athlon II X3 450). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2377M.

Feature	Athlon II X3 450	Core i3-2377M
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+113%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+113%	1.5 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	1,865	1,850
Geekbench 6 Single	380+60%	238
Geekbench 6 Multi	980+79%	546

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 450 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2377M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 450 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: 760G,780G,790GX,880G,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 450) and FCBGA1023 (Core i3-2377M).

Feature	Athlon II X3 450	Core i3-2377M
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-2377M). The Core i3-2377M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II X3 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X3 450	Core i3-2377M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X3 450 was priced at $87, while the Core i3-2377M came in at $250. On launch pricing ($87 vs $250), Athlon II X3 450 was $163 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 450 delivers 21.4 pts/$ vs 7.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-2377M — making the Athlon II X3 450 the 97.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X3 450	Core i3-2377M
MSRP	$87-65%	$250
Performance per Dollar	21.4+189%	7.4
Release Date	2010	2012

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