Athlon II X4 631 vs Core i7-3517U

Athlon II X4 631 vs Core i7-3517U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 631

4 / 4

2,118

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-3517U

2 / 4

2,108

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 X4 631 vs Core i7-3517U 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 X4 631 vs Core i7-3517U: 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 X4 631

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 100W instead of 512W, a 412W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Core i7-3517U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-3517U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-3517U

2012

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II X4 631 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,108 vs 2,118).
❌412% higher power demand at 512W vs 100W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 631 better than Core i7-3517U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-3517U is ahead with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 631 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 631 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 631 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 631 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $80 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-3517U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-3517U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 631 vs Core i7-3517U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 631

The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i7-3517U

The Core i7-3517U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 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 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,108 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3517U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-3517U — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-3517U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-3517U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Core i7-3517U's 2,108 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3517U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core i7-3517U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+37%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,118	2,108

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3517U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 631 versus 1600 on the Core i7-3517U — the Athlon II X4 631 supports 16.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 631 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 631) and HM76,UM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3517U).

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core i7-3517U
Socket	FM1	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+17%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 631) / true (Core i7-3517U). The Core i7-3517U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 631 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-3517U rivals AMD A10-4655M.