Core i3-3110M vs Phenom II X4 N970
Core i3-3110M
Phenom II X4 N970
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 i3-3110M is positioned at rank 917 and the Phenom II X4 N970 is on rank 388, so the Phenom II X4 N970 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3110M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 N970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3110M | Phenom II X4 N970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3110M | Phenom II X4 N970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-3110M and Phenom II X4 N970
Core i3-3110M
The Core i3-3110M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,656 points. Launch price was $225.
Phenom II X4 N970
The Phenom II X4 N970 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: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3110M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 N970 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-3110M versus 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N970 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-3110M. The Core i3-3110M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X4 N970 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3110M scores 1,656 against the Phenom II X4 N970's 1,647 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-3110M.
| Feature | Core i3-3110M | Phenom II X4 N970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,656 | 1,647 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 424 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 846 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3110M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 N970 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3110M | Phenom II X4 N970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-3110M) / not specified (Phenom II X4 N970). The Core i3-3110M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Phenom II X4 N970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3110M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3110M rivals AMD A8-4500M.
| Feature | Core i3-3110M | Phenom II X4 N970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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