Core i3-330E vs A4-9120C
Core i3-330E
A4-9120C
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 A4-9120C is on rank 855, so the A4-9120C 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 A4-9120C
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-330E | A4-9120C |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-330E | A4-9120C |
|---|---|---|
| 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 A4-9120C
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.
A4-9120C
The A4-9120C is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,258 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-330E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-9120C's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Core i3-330E versus 1.6 GHz on the A4-9120C — a 192.6% clock advantage for the A4-9120C. The Core i3-330E uses the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-9120C uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-330E scores 1,260 against the A4-9120C's 1,258 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-330E.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-9120C |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.03 GHz | 1.6 GHz+5233% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Westmere (2010−2011) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,260 | 1,258 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 418 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-330E uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-9120C uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-9120C |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-330E) / AMD-V (A4-9120C). The A4-9120C includes integrated graphics (Radeon R4), while the Core i3-330E requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120C targets Chromebook. Direct competitor: A4-9120C rivals Celeron N3350.
| Feature | Core i3-330E | A4-9120C |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R4 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Chromebook |
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