Athlon II N330 vs Core i3-2120

Athlon II N330 vs Core i3-2120 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-2120

2 / 4

1,979

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 Core i3-2120 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 Core i3-2120: 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

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $38 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Delivers 39.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.0 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-2120 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-2120.

Core i3-2120

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 2000, while Athlon II N330 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon II N330.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II N330 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,979 vs 1,999).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
❌6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N330 better than Core i3-2120?

Yes. Athlon II N330 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% 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 3.1% 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 1% 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 $38 cheaper on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $138 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 39.4% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 14.3 PassMark/$), 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 i3-2120 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II N330 vs Core i3-2120 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.

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 Core i3-2120 supports 25% 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 GB — 300% 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	DDR3-1333+25%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	32 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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

At launch, the Athlon II N330 was priced at $100, while the Core i3-2120 came in at $138. On launch pricing ($100 vs $138), Athlon II N330 was $38 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N330 delivers 20.0 pts/$ vs 14.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2120 — making the Athlon II N330 the 32.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i3-2120
MSRP	$100-28%	$138
Performance per Dollar	20.0+40%	14.3
Release Date	2010	2011

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