Athlon II N330 vs Celeron N3450

Athlon II N330 vs Celeron N3450 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron N3450

4 / 4

1,981

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.

Athlon II N330 vs Celeron N3450 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 II N330 vs Celeron N3450: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II N330

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 6W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Celeron N3450 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3450 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3450

2016

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (6 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 500, while Athlon II N330 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,981 vs 1,999).
❌500% higher power demand at 6W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N330 better than Celeron N3450?

Yes. Athlon II N330 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II N330 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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 0.9% 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 $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Celeron N3450 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II N330 vs Celeron N3450 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Celeron N3450

The Celeron N3450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,981 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Celeron N3450 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N3450 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron N3450 — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II N330. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N3450 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Celeron N3450's 1,981 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon II N330.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Celeron N3450
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz+5%	2.2 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)
PassMark	1,999	1,981

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3450 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II N330 versus 2400 on the Celeron N3450 — the Celeron N3450 supports 125.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 6 (Celeron N3450) — the Celeron N3450 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and FCBGA1296 (Celeron N3450).

Feature	Athlon II N330	Celeron N3450
Socket	S1	FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1066	2400+125%
Max RAM Capacity	8	8
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	6

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Celeron N3450 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100; Celeron N3450 rivals AMD A4-9120.