Core i3-330E vs A4-4020
Core i3-330E
A4-4020
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 Core i3-330E is positioned at rank 1157 and the A4-4020 is on rank 768, so the A4-4020 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-330E
Performance Per Dollar A4-4020
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-330E | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-330E | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core i3-330E and A4-4020
Core i3-330E
The Core i3-330E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,260 points. Launch price was $177.
A4-4020
The A4-4020 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,269 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-330E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-4020's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Core i3-330E versus 3.4 GHz on the A4-4020 — a 196.5% clock advantage for the A4-4020 (base: 2.13 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-330E uses the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-4020 uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-330E scores 1,260 against the A4-4020's 1,269 — a 0.7% lead for the A4-4020.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.03 GHz | 3.4 GHz+11233% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | 3.2 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB (total)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere (2010−2011) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,260 | 1,269 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 341 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-330E uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-4020 uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-330E) / AMD-V (A4-4020). The A4-4020 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7480D), while the Core i3-330E requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4020 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-4020 rivals Pentium G3220.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 7480D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
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