A9-9420 vs Atom 330
A9-9420
Atom 330
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 A9-9420 is positioned at rank 1074 and the Atom 330 is on rank 39, so the Atom 330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420
Performance Per Dollar Atom 330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Diamondville (2008−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ 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 A9-9420 and Atom 330
A9-9420
The A9-9420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,538 points. Launch price was $69.
Atom 330
The Atom 330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Diamondville (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,530 points. Launch price was $43.
Processing Power
The A9-9420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Atom 330's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A9-9420 versus 0.1 GHz on the Atom 330 — a 189.2% clock advantage for the A9-9420 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The A9-9420 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Atom 330 uses Diamondville (2008−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420 scores 1,538 against the Atom 330's 1,530 — a 0.5% lead for the A9-9420. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+3500% | 0.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+87% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total) | 1 MB |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Diamondville (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,538 | 1,530 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 497 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 950 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A9-9420 uses the FT4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom 330 uses PBGA437 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A9-9420 versus DDR2-533 on the Atom 330 — the A9-9420 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A9-9420 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A9-9420) vs 0 (Atom 330) — the A9-9420 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A9-9420) and Intel BGA437 (Atom 330).
| Feature | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT4 | PBGA437 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+100% | DDR2-533 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+100% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A9-9420) / not specified (Atom 330). The A9-9420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Atom 330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A9-9420 targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A9-9420 rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R5 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The A9-9420 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Atom 330 debuted at $43. At current prices ($30 vs $30), the Atom 330 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A9-9420 delivers 51.3 pts/$ vs 51.0 pts/$ for the Atom 330 — making the A9-9420 the 0.5% better value option.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $43-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 51.3 | 51.0 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2008 |
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