Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-580M

Athlon II N330 vs Core i5-580M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-580M

2 / 4

1,983

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 i5-580M 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 i5-580M: 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

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i5-580M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-580M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-580M

2010

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,983 vs 1,999).
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N330 better than Core i5-580M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-580M is ahead with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II N330 pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

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 0.8% 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 $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-580M is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-580M 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 i5-580M 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 i5-580M

The Core i5-580M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,983 points. Launch price was $266.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-580M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core i5-580M — a 36.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-580M. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-580M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i5-580M's 1,983 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II N330.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i5-580M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	3.33 GHz+45%
Base Clock	—	2.66 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,999	1,983
Geekbench 6 Single	—	445

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-580M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 1066 memory speed. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 16 (Core i5-580M) — the Core i5-580M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and HM55,PM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-580M).

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i5-580M
Socket	S1	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1066	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II N330) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-580M). The Core i5-580M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-580M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i5-580M rivals Phenom II X2 N660.