Athlon II X2 270u vs Core i3-330M

Athlon II X2 270u vs Core i3-330M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 270u

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 X2 270u 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 X2 270u 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 X2 270u

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 25W instead of 512W, a 487W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Core i3-330M.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (300 vs 317).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (550 vs 689).
❌Launch MSRP is still $68 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

✅+5.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale), while Athlon II X2 270u needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌1948% higher power demand at 512W vs 25W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 270u.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-330M better than Athlon II X2 270u?

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, 25.3% 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 25.3% 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 $68 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 270u only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (15.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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 X2 270u vs Core i3-330M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 270u

The Athlon II X2 270u is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $68.

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 X2 270u packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-330M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270u versus 0.13 GHz on the Core i3-330M — a 175.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 270u. The Athlon II X2 270u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-330M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 270u scores 1,045 against the Core i3-330M's 1,032 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 270u. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 317, a 5.5% lead for the Core i3-330M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 550 vs 689 (22.4% advantage for the Core i3-330M). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 270u vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-330M.

Feature	Athlon II X2 270u	Core i3-330M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2 GHz+1438%	0.13 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.13 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,045+1%	1,032
Cinebench R23 Multi	531	—
Geekbench 6 Single	300	317+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	550	689+25%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 270u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-330M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 270u versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-330M — the Athlon II X2 270u supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 270u supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 760G,AMD 880G,AMD 970 (Athlon II X2 270u) and HM55,PM55,QM57 (Core i3-330M).

Feature	Athlon II X2 270u	Core i3-330M
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 270u) vs VT-x / EPT (Core i3-330M). The Core i3-330M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale)), while the Athlon II X2 270u requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 270u targets Office/Budget Desktop, Core i3-330M targets Legacy Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 270u rivals Pentium E5700; Core i3-330M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.

Feature	Athlon II X2 270u	Core i3-330M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x / EPT
Target Use	Office/Budget Desktop	Legacy Budget