Core i3-2340UE vs Phenom II X4 P960

Core i3-2340UE vs Phenom II X4 P960 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-2340UE

2 / 4

1,545

+0.2%

1,542

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-2340UE vs Phenom II X4 P960 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.

Core i3-2340UE vs Phenom II X4 P960: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-2340UE

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 3000, while Phenom II X4 P960 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $200 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 P960 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌750% higher power demand at 17W vs 2W.

Phenom II X4 P960

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 17W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,542 vs 1,545).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2340UE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-2340UE better than Phenom II X4 P960?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X4 P960 is ahead with a 1.7% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-2340UE pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-2340UE 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 i3-2340UE is the better buy right now. Core i3-2340UE comes in at an unclear MSRP at $200 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X4 P960 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.7% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-2340UE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-2340UE vs Phenom II X4 P960 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-2340UE

The Core i3-2340UE 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. Max frequency: 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: 1,545 points. Launch price was $250.

Phenom II X4 P960

The Phenom II X4 P960 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,542 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-2340UE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 P960 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 P960 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Core i3-2340UE versus 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P960 — a 32.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 P960. The Core i3-2340UE uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 P960 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2340UE scores 1,545 against the Phenom II X4 P960's 1,542 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-2340UE.

Feature	Core i3-2340UE	Phenom II X4 P960
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.3 GHz	1.8 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,545	1,542
Geekbench 6 Single	230	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-2340UE uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 P960 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-2340UE	Phenom II X4 P960
Socket	BGA1023	S1g4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2340UE) / not specified (Phenom II X4 P960). The Core i3-2340UE includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X4 P960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2340UE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-2340UE rivals Embedded G-Series.