Athlon II N350 vs Core i3-330M

Athlon II N350 vs Core i3-330M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N350

2 / 2

1,045

+1.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-330M

2 / 4

1,032

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 N350 vs Core i3-330M 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 N350 vs Core i3-330M: 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 N350

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (210 vs 317).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 689).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core i3-330M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-330M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-330M

2010

Why buy it

✅+51% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale), while Athlon II N350 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-330M better than Athlon II N350?

Yes. Core i3-330M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 72.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 i3-330M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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 i3-330M is the stronger fit. You are getting 72.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-330M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-330M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II N350 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (10.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-330M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 N350 vs Core i3-330M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N350

The Athlon II N350 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: 2.4 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: 1,045 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-330M

The Core i3-330M 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 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $49.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II N350 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-330M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II N350 versus 0.13 GHz on the Core i3-330M — a 179.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II N350. The Athlon II N350 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-330M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N350 scores 1,045 against the Core i3-330M's 1,032 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II N350. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 210 vs 317, a 40.6% lead for the Core i3-330M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 400 vs 689 (53.1% advantage for the Core i3-330M).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core i3-330M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz+1746%	0.13 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,045+1%	1,032
Geekbench 6 Single	210	317+51%
Geekbench 6 Multi	400	689+72%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N350 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-330M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N350) vs 16 (Core i3-330M) — the Core i3-330M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N350) and HM55,PM55,QM57 (Core i3-330M).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Core i3-330M
Socket	S1	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	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: AMD-V (Athlon II N350) vs VT-x / EPT (Core i3-330M). The Core i3-330M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale)), while the Athlon II N350 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II N350 targets Legacy Laptop, Core i3-330M targets Legacy Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II N350 rivals Pentium P6100; Core i3-330M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.