Core i7-2617M vs Phenom II X3 B73

Core i7-2617M vs Phenom II X3 B73 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-2617M

2 / 4

1,687

+1.0%

Pentium Dual-Core E2180

1,671

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 i7-2617M vs Phenom II X3 B73 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 i7-2617M vs Phenom II X3 B73: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-2617M

2011

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 17W instead of 95W, a 78W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 3000, while Phenom II X3 B73 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Phenom II X3 B73

2009

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,671 vs 1,687).
❌458.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 17W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-2617M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-2617M better than Phenom II X3 B73?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X3 B73 is ahead with a 0.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2617M pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark. Phenom II X3 B73 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-2617M is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-2617M still makes the most sense overall. Core i7-2617M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-2617M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-2617M vs Phenom II X3 B73 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-2617M

The Core i7-2617M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $100.

Phenom II X3 B73

The Phenom II X3 B73 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,671 points. Launch price was $75.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-2617M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X3 B73 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 B73 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i7-2617M versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 B73 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 B73 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-2617M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2617M scores 1,687 against the Phenom II X3 B73's 1,671 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-2617M. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2617M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 B73.

Feature	Core i7-2617M	Phenom II X3 B73
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	2.8 GHz+8%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	2.8 GHz+87%
L3 Cache	4 MB	6 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,687	1,671
Geekbench 6 Single	448	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-2617M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-2617M	Phenom II X3 B73
Socket	BGA1023	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2617M) / not specified (Phenom II X3 B73). The Core i7-2617M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X3 B73 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2617M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i7-2617M rivals A6-3400M.