Phenom II X2 545
VS
Core i3-2310M

Phenom II X2 545 vs Core i3-2310M

AMD

Phenom II X2 545

2 Cores2 Thrd80 WWMax: 3 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Core i3-2310M

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.1 GHz2011

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 Phenom II X2 545 is positioned at rank 490 and the Core i3-2310M is on rank 1032, so the Phenom II X2 545 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 545

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
7584%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
7166%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
5203%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
1568%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
1242%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
1086%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
622%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
614%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
559%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
559%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
553%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
538%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
530%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
528%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
523%
#256
Ryzen 7 1700X
MSRP: $399|Avg: $60
95%
#371
Core 5 120UL
MSRP: $277|Avg: $270
95%
#490
Phenom II X2 545
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#491
Pentium G4600T
MSRP: $75|Avg: $35
99%
#493
Core i5-6500T
MSRP: $117|Avg: $35
99%
#494
FX-6330
MSRP: $109|Avg: $25
99%
#495
Celeron G1630
MSRP: $42|Avg: $5
99%
#499
Pentium G4400
MSRP: $64|Avg: $85
97%
#501
Core i5-8600K
MSRP: $257|Avg: $100
96%
#505
Athlon II X4 651
MSRP: $92|Avg: $92
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2310M

#1019
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
2401%
#1020
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
2366%
#1021
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
2172%
#1022
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
2162%
#1023
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
2142%
#1025
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
2069%
#1026
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
1984%
#1027
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
1980%
#1028
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
1927%
#1031
Core i5-4400E
MSRP: $266|Avg: $50
100%
#1032
Core i3-2310M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#1033
Pentium Dual Core T4400
MSRP: $107|Avg: $5
98%
#1036
Core i7-8665UE
MSRP: $409|Avg: $409
97%
#1037
Celeron T3300
MSRP: $86|Avg: $15
96%
#1038
Celeron Dual-Core T3300
MSRP: $86|Avg: $30
96%
#1041
Core i7-3612QE
MSRP: $426|Avg: $50
95%
#1042
A10-7300
MSRP: $150|Avg: $50
95%
#1043
Pentium Dual Core T4200
MSRP: $100|Avg: $10
94%
#1044
A6 Micro-6500T
MSRP: $100|Avg: $15
94%
#1045
Pentium N3520
MSRP: $100|Avg: $10
94%
#1046
E2-3800
MSRP: $100|Avg: $20
93%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Phenom II X2 545 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i3-2310M in both compute-intensive tasks (0.9% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightPhenom II X2 545Core i3-2310M
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightPhenom II X2 545Core i3-2310M
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

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 Phenom II X2 545 and Core i3-2310M

AMD

Phenom II X2 545

The Phenom II X2 545 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (per core). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,233 points. Launch price was $50.

Intel

Core i3-2310M

The Core i3-2310M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 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: 1,222 points. Launch price was $225.

Processing Power

The Phenom II X2 545 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2310M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Phenom II X2 545 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-2310M — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 545 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Phenom II X2 545 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2310M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 545 scores 1,233 against the Core i3-2310M's 1,222 — a 0.9% lead for the Phenom II X2 545. L3 cache: 6 MB (per core) on the Phenom II X2 545 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2310M.

FeaturePhenom II X2 545Core i3-2310M
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3 GHz+43%
2.1 GHz
Base Clock
3 GHz+43%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
6 MB (per core)+100%
3 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
45 nm
32 nm-29%
Architecture
Callisto (2009−2010)
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark
1,233
1,222
Geekbench 6 Single
350
Geekbench 6 Multi
658
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Phenom II X2 545 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2310M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeaturePhenom II X2 545Core i3-2310M
Socket
AM3
PGA988
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X2 545) / VT-x (Core i3-2310M). The Core i3-2310M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X2 545 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2310M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-2310M rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.

FeaturePhenom II X2 545Core i3-2310M
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x
Target Use
Budget