Atom 330
VS
Core i7-640LM

Atom 330 vs Core i7-640LM

Intel

Atom 330

2 Cores4 Thrd8 WWMax: 0.1 GHz2008
VS
Intel

Core i7-640LM

2 Cores4 Thrd25 WWMax: 2.93 GHz2010

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 Atom 330 is positioned at rank 39 and the Core i7-640LM is on rank 333, so the Atom 330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Atom 330

#10
Ryzen 7 260
MSRP: $199|Avg: $70
93%
#27
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
192%
#28
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
189%
#29
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
173%
#30
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
173%
#31
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
171%
#33
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
165%
#34
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
158%
#35
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
158%
#36
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
154%
#39
Atom 330
MSRP: $43|Avg: $30
100%
#43
Core 2 Duo SU7300
MSRP: $289|Avg: N/A
98%
#51
Celeron N2807
MSRP: $107|Avg: $60
91%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-640LM

#321
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
480%
#322
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
473%
#323
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
434%
#324
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
432%
#325
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
428%
#327
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
413%
#328
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
396%
#329
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
396%
#330
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
385%
#333
Core i7-640LM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#336
Xeon E3-1505M v5
MSRP: $115|Avg: $115
99%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i7-640LM leads in gaming performance. However, the Atom 330 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.1% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightAtom 330Core i7-640LM
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Diamondville (2008−2009) / 45 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightAtom 330Core i7-640LM
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 Atom 330 and Core i7-640LM

Intel

Atom 330

The Atom 330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Diamondville (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,530 points. Launch price was $43.

Intel

Core i7-640LM

The Core i7-640LM 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 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,529 points. Launch price was $332.

Processing Power

Both the Atom 330 and Core i7-640LM share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.1 GHz on the Atom 330 versus 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-640LM — a 186.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-640LM (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Atom 330 uses the Diamondville (2008−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-640LM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom 330 scores 1,530 against the Core i7-640LM's 1,529 — a 0.1% lead for the Atom 330. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom 330 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-640LM.

FeatureAtom 330Core i7-640LM
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 4
Boost Clock
0.1 GHz
2.93 GHz+2830%
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
2.13 GHz+33%
L3 Cache
0 kB
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
45 nm
32 nm-29%
Architecture
Diamondville (2008−2009)
Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark
1,530
1,529
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom 330 uses the PBGA437 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-640LM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom 330 versus 1066 on the Core i7-640LM — the Core i7-640LM supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-640LM supports up to 8 of RAM compared to 4 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom 330) vs 2 (Core i7-640LM). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom 330) vs 16 (Core i7-640LM) — the Core i7-640LM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel BGA437 (Atom 330) and HM55,HM57,QM57,QS57 (Core i7-640LM).

FeatureAtom 330Core i7-640LM
Socket
PBGA437
BGA1288
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-533
1066+53200%
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB+52428700%
8
RAM Channels
1
2+100%
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
0
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom 330) / true (Core i7-640LM). The Core i7-640LM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Atom 330 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-640LM rivals Core 2 Duo SL9400.

FeatureAtom 330Core i7-640LM
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
true