CPU
GPU
Core i7-2617M
Phenom II X3 B73
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 i7-2617M is positioned at rank 287 and the Phenom II X3 B73 is on rank 380, so the Core i7-2617M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2617M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 B73
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior 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 (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2617M | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-2617M and Phenom II X3 B73
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.
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 | — |
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
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.
| Feature | Core i7-2617M | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | — |
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