Athlon X2 340 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220

AMD

Athlon X2 340

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2008
Similar parts
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Athlon X2 340 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220 Performance Spectrum

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 Pentium Dual-Core E2220 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2220: 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

  • Costs $2 less on MSRP ($30 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Pentium Dual-Core E2220.

Trade-offs

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

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

2008

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (1,330 vs 1,333).
    • 6.7% HIGHER MSRP
      $32 MSRPvs$30 MSRP
    • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon X2 340.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon X2 340 better than Pentium Dual-Core E2220?
    Yes. Athlon X2 340 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.7% 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, Athlon X2 340 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 0.2% 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 $2 cheaper on MSRP at $30 MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 6.9% better value on MSRP (44.4 vs 41.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Athlon X2 340 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Athlon X2 340 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    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.

    Intel

    Pentium Dual-Core E2220

    The Pentium Dual-Core E2220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,330 points. Launch price was $69.

    Processing Power

    Both the Athlon X2 340 and Pentium Dual-Core E2220 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Athlon X2 340 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 340. The Athlon X2 340 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 340 scores 1,333 against the Pentium Dual-Core E2220's 1,330 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X2 340.

    FeatureAthlon X2 340Pentium Dual-Core E2220
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 2
    Boost Clock
    3.6 GHz+50%
    2.4 GHz
    Base Clock
    3.2 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    L2 Cache
    1 MB (total)
    1 MB (total)
    Process
    32 nm-51%
    65 nm
    Architecture
    Trinity (2012−2013)
    NetBurst (2000−2006)
    PassMark
    1,333
    1,330
    Geekbench 6 Single
    397
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    549
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon X2 340 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 uses LGA775 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon X2 340Pentium Dual-Core E2220
    Socket
    FM2
    LGA775
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 2.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR3-1600
    Max RAM Capacity
    32 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    16
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X2 340) / not specified (Pentium Dual-Core E2220). Primary use case: Athlon X2 340 targets Desktop.

    FeatureAthlon X2 340Pentium Dual-Core E2220
    Integrated GPU
    No
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    AMD-V
    Target Use
    Desktop
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Athlon X2 340 was priced at $30, while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 came in at $32. On launch pricing ($30 vs $32), Athlon X2 340 was $2 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 340 delivers 44.4 pts/$ vs 41.6 pts/$ for the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 — making the Athlon X2 340 the 6.7% better value option.

    FeatureAthlon X2 340Pentium Dual-Core E2220
    MSRP
    $30-6%
    $32
    Performance per Dollar
    44.4+7%
    41.6
    Release Date
    2012
    2008

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