Phenom X3 8600 vs Core i3-2350M
Phenom X3 8600
Core i3-2350M
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 X3 8600 is positioned at rank 947 and the Core i3-2350M is on rank 634, so the Core i3-2350M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8600
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2350M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X3 8600 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X3 8600 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X3 8600 and Core i3-2350M
Phenom X3 8600
The Phenom X3 8600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,267 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-2350M
The Core i3-2350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 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: 1,276 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Phenom X3 8600 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-2350M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X3 8600 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X3 8600 versus 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-2350M — identical boost frequencies. The Phenom X3 8600 uses the Toliman (2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-2350M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X3 8600 scores 1,267 against the Core i3-2350M's 1,276 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-2350M. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8600 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2350M.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8600 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Toliman (2008) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,267 | 1,276 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 390 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 806 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X3 8600 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2350M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8600 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | 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 X3 8600) / VT-x (Core i3-2350M). The Core i3-2350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom X3 8600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2350M targets Laptop.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8600 | Core i3-2350M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
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