A4-4300M vs Athlon II N330

AMD

A4-4300M

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 3 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II N330

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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A4-4300M vs Athlon II N330 Performance Spectrum

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.

A4-4300M vs Athlon II N330 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.

A4-4300M vs Athlon II N330: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A4-4300M

2012

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7420G, while Athlon II N330 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,997 vs 1,999).
  • 3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Athlon II N330

2010

Why buy it

  • +0.1% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while A4-4300M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • No integrated graphics, while A4-4300M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N330 better than A4-4300M?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A4-4300M is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II N330 pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II N330 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II N330 is the better buy right now. Athlon II N330 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that A4-4300M is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A4-4300M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A4-4300M vs Athlon II N330 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

A4-4300M

The A4-4300M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 1,997 points. Launch price was $50.

AMD

Athlon II N330

The Athlon II N330 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,999 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the A4-4300M and Athlon II N330 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the A4-4300M versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 — a 26.4% clock advantage for the A4-4300M. The A4-4300M uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II N330 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4300M scores 1,997 against the Athlon II N330's 1,999 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II N330.

FeatureA4-4300MAthlon II N330
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3 GHz+30%
2.3 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB (total)
1 MB
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Trinity (2012−2013)
Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark
1,997
1,999
Geekbench 6 Single
282
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Memory & Platform

The A4-4300M uses the FS1r2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II N330 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the A4-4300M versus 1066 on the Athlon II N330 — the A4-4300M supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A4-4300M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-4300M) vs 0 (Athlon II N330) — the A4-4300M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureA4-4300MAthlon II N330
Socket
FS1r2
S1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600+50%
1066
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB+100%
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-4300M) vs true (Athlon II N330). The A4-4300M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7420G), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4300M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-4300M rivals Pentium B980; Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.

FeatureA4-4300MAthlon II N330
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 7420G
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
true
Target Use
Budget Laptop