Athlon II N330 vs Core i3-2120
Athlon II N330
Core i3-2120
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 II N330 is positioned at rank 884 and the Core i3-2120 is on rank 911, so the Athlon II N330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N330
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+98%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
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 II N330 and Core i3-2120
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.
Core i3-2120
The Core i3-2120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,979 points. Launch price was $95.
Processing Power
The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2120's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 — a 35.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-2120 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i3-2120's 1,979 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II N330.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.3 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,999+1% | 1,979 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 534 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,140 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2120 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II N330 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i3-2120 — the Athlon II N330 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2120 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 16 (Core i3-2120) — the Core i3-2120 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,Q65,Q67,B75,H77,Q75,Q77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2120).
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+35433% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 32 GB+419430300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: true (Athlon II N330) vs Yes (Core i3-2120). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II N330 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Core i3-2120 debuted at $138. At current prices ($50 vs $25), the Core i3-2120 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N330 delivers 40.0 pts/$ vs 79.2 pts/$ for the Core i3-2120 — making the Core i3-2120 the 65.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-28% | $138 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $25-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 40.0 | 79.2+98% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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