Athlon II N330 vs Core i7-620M

Athlon II N330 vs Core i7-620M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N330

2 / 2

1,999

+1.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-620M

2 / 4

1,976

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 i7-620M 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 i7-620M: 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: +3.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 35W, a 34W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i7-620M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-620M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-620M

2010

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II N330 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,976 vs 1,999).
❌3400% higher power demand at 35W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N330 better than Core i7-620M?

Yes. Athlon II N330 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% 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 3.3% 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 1.2% 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 $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (20.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-620M 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 i7-620M 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 i7-620M

The Core i7-620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 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: 4 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: 1,976 points. Launch price was $332.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-620M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-620M — a 36.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-620M. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-620M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i7-620M's 1,976 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II N330.

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i7-620M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	3.33 GHz+45%
Base Clock	—	2.66 GHz
L3 Cache	—	4 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%	1,976
Geekbench 6 Single	—	350
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-620M 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 i7-620M) — the Core i7-620M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57 (Core i7-620M).

Feature	Athlon II N330	Core i7-620M
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

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II N330) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-620M). The Core i7-620M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i7-620M rivals Core 2 Duo T9600.