Core i5-560M
VS
Athlon II P340

Core i5-560M vs Athlon II P340

Intel

Core i5-560M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2010
VS
AMD

Athlon II P340

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2010

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. The Core i5-560M is positioned at rank #1121 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

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 i5-560M

#1109
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
3485%
#1110
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
3433%
#1111
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
3152%
#1112
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
3138%
#1113
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
3109%
#1115
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
3002%
#1116
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
2879%
#1117
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
2874%
#1118
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
2797%
#1121
Core i5-560M
MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A
100%
#1122
Pentium U5600
MSRP: $100|Avg: $50
99%
#1123
Core m5-6Y57
MSRP: $281|Avg: $281
99%
#1125
Core i7-610E
MSRP: $250|Avg: $40
98%
#1126
Core i5-5350U
MSRP: $315|Avg: N/A
98%
#1127
Core i3-4100E
MSRP: $225|Avg: $30
98%
#1128
Core i7-3520M
MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A
98%
#1129
Pentium Dual Core T4300
MSRP: $150|Avg: $99
98%
#1130
Core i3-2310E
MSRP: $225|Avg: $20
97%
#1131
Core i5-2510E
MSRP: $230|Avg: $30
97%
#1132
Core m5-6Y54
MSRP: $281|Avg: $281
97%
#1133
Core i3-2330E
MSRP: $225|Avg: $10
96%
#1135
Core i5-4288U
MSRP: $342|Avg: N/A
92%
#1136
Core m3-6Y30
MSRP: $281|Avg: $281
92%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i5-560M leads in gaming performance. However, the Athlon II P340 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.1% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($225)
More affordable ($10)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Athlon II P340 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 96% cheaper ($10 vs $225) while identifying as the stronger performer.
InsightCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Better overall value (+2151%)
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($225)
More affordable ($10)

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 i5-560M and Athlon II P340

Intel

Core i5-560M

The Core i5-560M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,894 points. Launch price was $225.

AMD

Athlon II P340

The Athlon II P340 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,895 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i5-560M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II P340's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-560M versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II P340 — a 37% clock advantage for the Core i5-560M. The Core i5-560M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II P340 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-560M scores 1,894 against the Athlon II P340's 1,895 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II P340.

FeatureCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz+45%
2.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.66 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB (total)
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
1 MB+300%
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Arrandale (2010−2011)
Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark
1,894
1,895
Geekbench 6 Single
450
Geekbench 6 Multi
950
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-560M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II P340 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-560M versus 1066 on the Athlon II P340 — the Athlon II P340 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-560M) vs 0 (Athlon II P340) — the Core i5-560M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,PM55,QM57 (Core i5-560M) and S1g4 (Athlon II P340).

FeatureCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
Socket
PGA988
S1g4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066
1066+35433%
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB+104857500%
8
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-560M) vs true (Athlon II P340). The Core i5-560M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II P340 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-560M targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-560M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660; Athlon II P340 rivals Pentium P6000.

FeatureCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
true
Target Use
Laptop
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-560M launched at $225 MSRP, while the Athlon II P340 debuted at $0.

FeatureCore i5-560MAthlon II P340
MSRP
$225
$0-100%
Avg Price (30d)
$10
Release Date
2010
2010