Core i5-2310 vs Athlon X4 880K
Core i5-2310
Athlon X4 880K
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 i5-2310 is positioned at rank 783 and the Athlon X4 880K is on rank 511, so the Athlon X4 880K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2310
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 880K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($12) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+109%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($12) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 i5-2310 and Athlon X4 880K
Core i5-2310
The Core i5-2310 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,664 points. Launch price was $150.
Athlon X4 880K
The Athlon X4 880K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,649 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-2310 and Athlon X4 880K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2310 versus 4.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 880K — a 27% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 880K (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-2310 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X4 880K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2310 scores 3,664 against the Athlon X4 880K's 3,649 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-2310.
| Feature | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz+31% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 4 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,664 | 3,649 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 565 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,740 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2310 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X4 880K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon X4 880K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,P67,Z68,Z77 (Core i5-2310) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 880K).
| Feature | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i5-2310) / not specified (Athlon X4 880K). The Core i5-2310 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon X4 880K requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2310 launched at $177 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 880K debuted at $95. At current prices ($12 vs $25), the Core i5-2310 is $13 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2310 delivers 305.3 pts/$ vs 146.0 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 880K — making the Core i5-2310 the 70.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2310 | Athlon X4 880K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $177 | $95-46% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $12-52% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 305.3+109% | 146.0 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2015 |
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