Athlon II N330 vs Core i7-920XM
Athlon II N330
Core i7-920XM
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II N330 is positioned at rank 884 and the Core i7-920XM is on rank 876, so the Core i7-920XM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N330
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-920XM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core i7-920XM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II N330 | Core i7-920XM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II N330 and Core i7-920XM
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 i7-920XM
The Core i7-920XM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,014 points. Launch price was $1,054.
Processing Power
The Athlon II N330 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-920XM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-920XM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-920XM — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-920XM. The Athlon II N330 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-920XM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N330 scores 1,999 against the Core i7-920XM's 2,014 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-920XM.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i7-920XM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+39% |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Clarksfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,999 | 2,014 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II N330 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-920XM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Athlon II N330 versus 1333 on the Core i7-920XM — the Core i7-920XM supports 22.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N330) vs 16 (Core i7-920XM) — the Core i7-920XM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g4 (Athlon II N330) and PM55,HM55,QM57 (Core i7-920XM).
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i7-920XM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | 1333+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-920XM has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support true virtualization. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i7-920XM rivals Core i7-2720QM.
| Feature | Athlon II N330 | Core i7-920XM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | true |
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