Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Core i3-330E
Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Core i3-330E
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 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is positioned at rank 1101 and the Core i3-330E is on rank 1157, so the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-330E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 4200+ | Core i3-330E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($89) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Manchester (2005−2006) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 4200+ | Core i3-330E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($89) |
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 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ and Core i3-330E
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ launched at $581 MSRP, while the Core i3-330E debuted at $177. At current prices ($110 vs $89), the Core i3-330E is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ delivers 11.4 pts/$ vs 14.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-330E — making the Core i3-330E the 21.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 4200+ | Core i3-330E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $581 | $177-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $89-19% |
| Performance per Dollar | 11.4 | 14.2+25% |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2010 |
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