Core i3-330M vs Athlon II X2 270u
Core i3-330M
Athlon II X2 270u
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 i3-330M is positioned at rank 276 and the Athlon II X2 270u is on rank 897, so the Core i3-330M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-330M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 270u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-330M | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-330M | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 i3-330M and Athlon II X2 270u
Core i3-330M
The Core i3-330M 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 0.13 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,032 points. Launch price was $49.
Athlon II X2 270u
The Athlon II X2 270u is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $68.
Processing Power
The Core i3-330M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II X2 270u's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.13 GHz on the Core i3-330M versus 2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270u — a 175.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 270u. The Core i3-330M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 270u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-330M scores 1,032 against the Athlon II X2 270u's 1,045 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 270u. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 317 vs 300, a 5.5% lead for the Core i3-330M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 689 vs 550 (22.4% advantage for the Core i3-330M). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-330M vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 270u.
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.13 GHz | 2 GHz+1438% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,032 | 1,045+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 531 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 317+6% | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 689+25% | 550 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-330M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 270u uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X2 270u supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55,PM55,QM57 (Core i3-330M) and AMD 760G,AMD 880G,AMD 970 (Athlon II X2 270u).
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x / EPT (Core i3-330M) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 270u). The Core i3-330M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale)), while the Athlon II X2 270u requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-330M targets Legacy Budget, Athlon II X2 270u targets Office/Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-330M rivals AMD Athlon II P320; Athlon II X2 270u rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale) | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Budget | Office/Budget Desktop |
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