Athlon X2 340 vs Atom x7-Z8700

Athlon X2 340 vs Atom x7-Z8700 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 340

2 / 2

1,333

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Atom x7-Z8700

4 / 4

1,325

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 X2 340 vs Atom x7-Z8700 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 X2 340 vs Atom x7-Z8700: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon X2 340

2012

Why buy it

✅700% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 2) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Atom x7-Z8700.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $30 MSRP, while Atom x7-Z8700 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x7-Z8700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Atom x7-Z8700

2015

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), while Athlon X2 340 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,325 vs 1,333).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon X2 340.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X2 340 better than Atom x7-Z8700?

Yes. Athlon X2 340 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 and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X2 340 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, Athlon X2 340 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon X2 340 is the better buy right now. Athlon X2 340 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $30 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (44.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Atom x7-Z8700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X2 340 vs Atom x7-Z8700 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X2 340

The Athlon X2 340 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,333 points. Launch price was $149.

Atom x7-Z8700

The Atom x7-Z8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,325 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X2 340 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom x7-Z8700 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x7-Z8700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Athlon X2 340 versus 2.4 GHz on the Atom x7-Z8700 — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 340 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon X2 340 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom x7-Z8700 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 340 scores 1,333 against the Atom x7-Z8700's 1,325 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon X2 340.

Feature	Athlon X2 340	Atom x7-Z8700
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+50%	2.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+100%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB (total)	2 MB+100%
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Trinity (2012−2013)	Cherry Trail (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,333	1,325
Geekbench 6 Single	397	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	549	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 340 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x7-Z8700 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Athlon X2 340 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X2 340) vs 2 (Atom x7-Z8700) — the Athlon X2 340 offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A88X (Athlon X2 340) and Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x7-Z8700).

Feature	Athlon X2 340	Atom x7-Z8700
Socket	FM2	UTFCBGA1380
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	LPDDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+700%	2

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X2 340) / not specified (Atom x7-Z8700). The Atom x7-Z8700 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)), while the Athlon X2 340 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X2 340 targets Desktop.