A4-1250 vs Core i3-2330M

A4-1250 vs Core i3-2330M Performance Spectrum

A4-1250

2 / 2

1,258

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2330M

2 / 4

1,248

0.0%

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.

A4-1250 vs Core i3-2330M FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A4-1250 vs Core i3-2330M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-1250

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 8W instead of 35W, a 27W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i3-2330M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i3-2330M

2011

Why buy it

✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,248 vs 1,258).
❌337.5% higher power demand at 35W vs 8W.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-1250 better than Core i3-2330M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i3-2330M is ahead with a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A4-1250 pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-1250 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A4-1250 is the better buy right now. A4-1250 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i3-2330M is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A4-1250 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-1250 vs Core i3-2330M Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A4-1250

The A4-1250 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Temash (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,258 points. Launch price was $50.

Core i3-2330M

The Core i3-2330M 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 1,248 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The A4-1250 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2330M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1 GHz on the A4-1250 versus 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-2330M — a 75% clock advantage for the Core i3-2330M. The A4-1250 uses the Temash (2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-2330M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A4-1250 scores 1,258 against the Core i3-2330M's 1,248 — a 0.8% lead for the A4-1250. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A4-1250 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2330M.

Feature	A4-1250	Core i3-2330M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1 GHz	2.2 GHz+120%
Base Clock	—	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Temash (2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,258	1,248
Geekbench 6 Single	111	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	188	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A4-1250 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-2330M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L 1333 MHz memory speed. The Core i3-2330M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A4-1250) vs 2 (Core i3-2330M). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-1250) vs 16 (Core i3-2330M) — the Core i3-2330M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT3 (A4-1250) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i3-2330M).

Feature	A4-1250	Core i3-2330M
Socket	FT3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L 1333 MHz	1333
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 8210 (A4-1250) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2330M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-1250 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: A4-1250 rivals Atom Z3740; Core i3-2330M rivals AMD A6-3400M.