Core i3-2350M
VS
Athlon X2 QL-60

Core i3-2350M vs Athlon X2 QL-60

Intel

Core i3-2350M

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2011
VS
AMD

Athlon X2 QL-60

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2008

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 Core i3-2350M is positioned at rank 634 and the Athlon X2 QL-60 is on rank 783, so the Core i3-2350M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2350M

#187
Core Ultra 9 288V
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
98%
#188
Core i7-10870H
MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A
98%
#622
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
851%
#623
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
838%
#624
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
769%
#625
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
766%
#626
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
759%
#628
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
733%
#629
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
703%
#630
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
702%
#631
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
683%
#634
Core i3-2350M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#638
Celeron Dual-Core T1400
MSRP: $80|Avg: $10
99%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-60

#771
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
1152%
#772
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
1136%
#773
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
1042%
#774
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
1038%
#775
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
1028%
#777
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
993%
#778
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
952%
#779
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
951%
#780
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
925%
#783
Athlon X2 QL-60
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#790
Athlon 64 TF-20
MSRP: $50|Avg: $10
98%
#795
Core i3-1115G4E
MSRP: $213|Avg: $47
96%
#797
Celeron M 900
MSRP: $86|Avg: $10
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i3-2350M delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Athlon X2 QL-60 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.2% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCore i3-2350MAthlon X2 QL-60
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCore i3-2350MAthlon X2 QL-60
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 Core i3-2350M and Athlon X2 QL-60

Intel

Core i3-2350M

The Core i3-2350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,276 points. Launch price was $225.

AMD

Athlon X2 QL-60

The Athlon X2 QL-60 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: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,273 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i3-2350M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon X2 QL-60's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-2350M versus 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — a 19% clock advantage for the Core i3-2350M. The Core i3-2350M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2350M scores 1,276 against the Athlon X2 QL-60's 1,273 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-2350M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2350M vs 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-60.

FeatureCore i3-2350MAthlon X2 QL-60
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.3 GHz+21%
1.9 GHz
Base Clock
2.3 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB (total)
0 kB
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
1 MB+300%
Process
32 nm-51%
65 nm
Architecture
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Lion (2008−2009)
PassMark
1,276
1,273
Geekbench 6 Single
390
Geekbench 6 Multi
806
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-2350M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i3-2350M versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — the Core i3-2350M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2350M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2350M) vs 0 (Athlon X2 QL-60) — the Core i3-2350M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67 (Core i3-2350M) and AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-60).

FeatureCore i3-2350MAthlon X2 QL-60
Socket
PGA988
S1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333+50%
DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB+100%
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-2350M) / not specified (Athlon X2 QL-60). The Core i3-2350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2350M targets Laptop.

FeatureCore i3-2350MAthlon X2 QL-60
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x
Target Use
Laptop