C-50 vs Core i3-390M
C-50
Core i3-390M
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 C-50 is positioned at rank 777 and the Core i3-390M is on rank 585, so the Core i3-390M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar C-50
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | C-50 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ontario (2011−2012) / 40 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | C-50 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 C-50 and Core i3-390M
C-50
The C-50 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,282 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
Processing Power
The C-50 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-390M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1 GHz on the C-50 versus 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M — a 39.5% clock advantage for the C-50. The C-50 uses the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture (40 nm), while the Core i3-390M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the C-50 scores 1,282 against the Core i3-390M's 1,292 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-390M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the C-50 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-390M.
| Feature | C-50 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1 GHz+49% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 40 nm | 32 nm-20% |
| Architecture | Ontario (2011−2012) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,282 | 1,292 |
Memory & Platform
The C-50 uses the FT1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-390M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Core i3-390M supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (C-50) vs 2 (Core i3-390M). PCIe lanes: 4 (C-50) vs 16 (Core i3-390M) — the Core i3-390M offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | C-50 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT1 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (C-50) / VT-x (Core i3-390M). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 6250 (C-50) and HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile.
| Feature | C-50 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6250 | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on C-50 and Core i3-390M
