Athlon X2 QL-65 vs Core i3-2357M

Athlon X2 QL-65 vs Core i3-2357M Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 QL-65

2 / 2

1,630

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2357M

2 / 4

1,645

+0.9%

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 QL-65 vs Core i3-2357M 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 QL-65 vs Core i3-2357M: 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 QL-65

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 17W, a 16W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,630 vs 1,645).
❌Launch MSRP is still $150 MSRP, while Core i3-2357M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2357M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-2357M

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon X2 QL-65 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌1600% higher power demand at 17W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X2 QL-65 better than Core i3-2357M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon X2 QL-65 is ahead with a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-2357M pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-2357M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X2 QL-65 is the better buy right now. Athlon X2 QL-65 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $150 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i3-2357M is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.9% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (10.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-2357M 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 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X2 QL-65 vs Core i3-2357M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X2 QL-65

The Athlon X2 QL-65 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,630 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-2357M

The Core i3-2357M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,645 points. Launch price was $250.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X2 QL-65 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2357M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-65 versus 1.3 GHz on the Core i3-2357M — a 47.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 QL-65. The Athlon X2 QL-65 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-2357M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-65 scores 1,630 against the Core i3-2357M's 1,645 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-2357M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-65 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2357M.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-65	Core i3-2357M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz+62%	1.3 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	65 nm	32 nm-51%
Architecture	Lion (2008−2009)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,630	1,645
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	440
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	440

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 QL-65 uses the S1g2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2357M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-65 versus 1333 on the Core i3-2357M — the Core i3-2357M supports 99.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2357M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 QL-65) vs 16 (Core i3-2357M) — the Core i3-2357M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-65) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS57,QS67,UM67 (Core i3-2357M).

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-65	Core i3-2357M
Socket	S1g2	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	1333+100%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-65) / true (Core i3-2357M). The Core i3-2357M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon X2 QL-65 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i3-2357M rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600.