Athlon II X4 631 vs Xeon X3330

AMD

Athlon II X4 631

4 Cores4 Thrd100 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2011
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VS
Intel

Xeon X3330

95 WW2008
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Athlon II X4 631 vs Xeon X3330 Performance Spectrum

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 X4 631 vs Xeon X3330 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 X4 631 vs Xeon X3330: 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 X4 631

2011

Why buy it

  • +0.8% higher PassMark.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon X3330 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Xeon X3330 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon X3330

2008

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 95W instead of 100W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,102 vs 2,118).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 631 better than Xeon X3330?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon X3330 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon II X4 631 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 631 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X4 631 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 631 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $80 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon X3330 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X4 631 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2008). That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 631 vs Xeon X3330 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X4 631

The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon X3330

The Xeon X3330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Base frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,102 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 631 is built on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Xeon X3330's 2,102 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon X3330.

FeatureAthlon II X4 631Xeon X3330
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
Boost Clock
2.6 GHz
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
2.66 GHz+2%
L3 Cache
0 kB
6 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Llano (2011−2012)
PassMark
2,118
2,102
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon X3330 uses LGA775 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X4 631Xeon X3330
Socket
FM1
LGA775
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16