CPU
GPU
Athlon X2 L310
Athlon II X3 440
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon X2 L310 is positioned at rank 933 and the Athlon II X3 440 is on rank 722, so the Athlon II X3 440 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 L310
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 440
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conesus (2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+100%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon X2 L310 and Athlon II X3 440
Athlon X2 L310
The Athlon X2 L310 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Conesus (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,747 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X3 440
The Athlon II X3 440 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,743 points. Launch price was $47.
Processing Power
The Athlon X2 L310 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 440 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 440 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 L310 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 440 — a 85.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 440. The Athlon X2 L310 uses the Conesus (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 L310 scores 1,747 against the Athlon II X3 440's 1,743 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X2 L310.
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3 GHz+150% |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Conesus (2009) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,747 | 1,743 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 120 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 213 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 L310 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 L310 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 440 — the Athlon II X3 440 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 440 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1 (Athlon X2 L310) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 440).
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR3-1333+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 32 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Athlon X2 L310) / not specified (Athlon II X3 440). Primary use case: Athlon X2 L310 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X2 L310 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 440 debuted at $75. At current prices ($20 vs $10), the Athlon II X3 440 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 L310 delivers 87.3 pts/$ vs 174.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 440 — making the Athlon II X3 440 the 66.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $75-25% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $10-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 87.3 | 174.3+100% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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