Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-470UM

AMD

Athlon II N330

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i5-470UM

2 Cores4 Thrd18 WWMax: 1.86 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-470UM Performance Spectrum

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 i5-470UM 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 i5-470UM: 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: +5.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 1W instead of 18W, a 17W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i5-470UM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i5-470UM

2010

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II N330 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (1,973 vs 1,999).
    • 1700% higher power demand at 18W vs 1W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon II N330 better than Core i5-470UM?
    Yes. Athlon II N330 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.3% 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 5.2% 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 1.3% 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 $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Core i5-470UM is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

    Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-470UM Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    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.

    Intel

    Core i5-470UM

    The Core i5-470UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,973 points. Launch price was $69.

    Processing Power

    The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-470UM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 1.86 GHz on the Core i5-470UM — a 21.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II N330. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-470UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i5-470UM's 1,973 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II N330.

    FeatureAthlon II N330Core i5-470UM
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 4
    Boost Clock
    2.3 GHz+24%
    1.86 GHz
    Base Clock
    1.33 GHz
    L3 Cache
    3 MB
    L2 Cache
    1 MB+100%
    512 kB
    Process
    45 nm
    32 nm-29%
    Architecture
    Champlain (2010−2011)
    Arrandale (2010−2011)
    PassMark
    1,999+1%
    1,973
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-470UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon II N330Core i5-470UM
    Socket
    S1
    BGA1288
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 2.0
    Max RAM Speed
    1066
    Max RAM Capacity
    8
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: true (Athlon II N330) / not specified (Core i5-470UM). Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.

    FeatureAthlon II N330Core i5-470UM
    Integrated GPU
    No
    IGPU Model
    None
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    true