Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-3317U

Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-3317U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-3317U

2 / 4

2,014

+0.8%

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 i5-3317U 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 i5-3317U: 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 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,999 vs 2,014).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i5-3317U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3317U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-3317U

2012

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II N330 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-3317U better than Athlon II N330?

Yes. Core i5-3317U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-3317U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.0% 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, Core i5-3317U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-3317U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-3317U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II N330 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1.

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

Core i5-3317U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010) 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 II N330 vs Core i5-3317U 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 i5-3317U

The Core i5-3317U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,014 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-3317U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-3317U — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-3317U. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-3317U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i5-3317U's 2,014 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-3317U.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i5-3317U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	2.6 GHz+13%
Base Clock	—	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,999	2,014

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3317U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II N330 versus 1600 on the Core i5-3317U — the Core i5-3317U supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-3317U supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 8 — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 16 (Core i5-3317U) — the Core i5-3317U offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and HM76,UM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3317U).

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i5-3317U
Socket	S1	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1066	1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	8	32+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Core i5-3317U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i5-3317U rivals AMD A8-4555M.