CPU
GPU
Phenom II X2 B53
Athlon II M340
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 B53 is positioned at rank 1038 and the Athlon II M340 is on rank 1001, so the Athlon II M340 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 B53
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M340
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior 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 (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2%) | ❌ 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 Phenom II X2 B53 and Athlon II M340
Phenom II X2 B53
The Phenom II X2 B53 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 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): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,137 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II M340
The Athlon II M340 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X2 B53 and Athlon II M340 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X2 B53 versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II M340 — a 24% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 B53. The Phenom II X2 B53 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II M340 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 B53 scores 1,137 against the Athlon II M340's 1,115 — a 2% lead for the Phenom II X2 B53. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 858, a 96.4% lead for the Athlon II M340 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 550 vs 1,500 (92.7% advantage for the Athlon II M340).
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+27% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Callisto (2009−2010) | Caspian (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,137+2% | 1,115 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | 858+186% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | 1,500+173% |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X2 B53 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II M340 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X2 B53 versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon II M340 — the Phenom II X2 B53 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Phenom II X2 B53 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X2 B53) and RS880M (Athlon II M340).
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | S1g3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Phenom II X2 B53) vs AMD-V (Athlon II M340). Primary use case: Athlon II M340 targets Laptop.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X2 B53 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon II M340 debuted at $80. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon II M340 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X2 B53 delivers 75.8 pts/$ vs 74.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II M340 — making the Phenom II X2 B53 the 2% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II M340 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $80-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 75.8+2% | 74.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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