Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

2 / 2

1,255

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-330E

2 / 4

1,260

+0.4%

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.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E 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.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,255 vs 1,260).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 2.2 vs 7.1 PassMark/$ ($581 MSRP vs $177 MSRP).
❌154.3% higher power demand at 89W vs 35W.

Core i3-330E

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $404 less on MSRP ($177 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅Delivers 229.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 7.1 vs 2.2 PassMark/$ ($177 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 89W, a 54W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-330E better than Athlon 64 X2 4200+?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is ahead with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-330E pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-330E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-330E is the better buy right now. Core i3-330E comes in $404 cheaper on MSRP at $177 MSRP versus $581 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 229.6% better value on MSRP (7.1 vs 2.2 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-330E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2006) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Dezembro 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,255 points. Launch price was $309.

Core i3-330E

The Core i3-330E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,260 points. Launch price was $177.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-330E's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ versus 0.03 GHz on the Core i3-330E — a 194.6% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 4200+. The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Core i3-330E uses Westmere (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ scores 1,255 against the Core i3-330E's 1,260 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-330E. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs 3 MB on the Core i3-330E.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Core i3-330E
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz+7233%	0.03 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB
Process	90 nm	32 nm-64%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Westmere (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,255	1,260

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-330E uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Core i3-330E
Socket	939	BGA1288
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ was priced at $581, while the Core i3-330E came in at $177. On launch pricing ($581 vs $177), Core i3-330E was $404 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ delivers 2.2 pts/$ vs 7.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-330E — making the Core i3-330E the 106.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Core i3-330E
MSRP	$581	$177-70%
Performance per Dollar	2.2	7.1+223%
Release Date	2006	2010

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