Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i3-2350M

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i3-2350M Performance Spectrum

Athlon Neo MV-40

1 / 1

1,274

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2350M

2 / 4

1,276

+0.2%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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 Neo MV-40 vs Core i3-2350M 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 Neo MV-40 vs Core i3-2350M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon Neo MV-40

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,274 vs 1,276).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i3-2350M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2350M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-2350M

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon Neo MV-40 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-2350M better than Athlon Neo MV-40?

Yes. Core i3-2350M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-2350M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.8% 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, Core i3-2350M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-2350M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-2350M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon Neo MV-40 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (12.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on ASB1.

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

Core i3-2350M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon Neo MV-40 vs Core i3-2350M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon Neo MV-40

The Athlon Neo MV-40 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Huron (2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: ASB1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,274 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-2350M

The Core i3-2350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,276 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon Neo MV-40 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core i3-2350M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i3-2350M has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-2350M — a 35.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-2350M. The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the Huron (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-2350M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Neo MV-40 scores 1,274 against the Core i3-2350M's 1,276 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-2350M.

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i3-2350M
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	2 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	2.3 GHz+44%
Base Clock	—	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256K (per core)
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Huron (2009)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,274	1,276
Geekbench 6 Single	—	390
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	806

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon Neo MV-40 uses the ASB1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2350M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon Neo MV-40 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i3-2350M — the Core i3-2350M supports 99.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2350M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon Neo MV-40) vs 16 (Core i3-2350M) — the Core i3-2350M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB1 (Athlon Neo MV-40) and HM65,HM67,QM67 (Core i3-2350M).

Feature	Athlon Neo MV-40	Core i3-2350M
Socket	ASB1	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR3-1333+100%
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	16 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Neo MV-40) / VT-x (Core i3-2350M). The Core i3-2350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon Neo MV-40 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2350M targets Laptop.