Phenom II X4 N970 vs Core i3-2357M
Phenom II X4 N970
Core i3-2357M
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 X4 N970 is positioned at rank 388 and the Core i3-2357M is on rank 96, so the Core i3-2357M 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 X4 N970
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2357M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom II X4 N970 and Core i3-2357M
Phenom II X4 N970
The Phenom II X4 N970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-2357M
The Core i3-2357M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,645 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 N970 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2357M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N970 versus 1.3 GHz on the Core i3-2357M — a 51.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 N970. The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2357M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 N970 scores 1,647 against the Core i3-2357M's 1,645 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X4 N970.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+69% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,647 | 1,645 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 440 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 440 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2357M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 N970) / true (Core i3-2357M). The Core i3-2357M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X4 N970 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i3-2357M rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core i3-2357M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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