Core i3-330M vs Celeron 2981U
Core i3-330M
Celeron 2981U
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 Celeron 2981U is on rank 426, 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 Celeron 2981U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-330M | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-330M | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
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 Celeron 2981U
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.
Celeron 2981U
The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-330M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 2981U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.13 GHz on the Core i3-330M versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — a 169.9% clock advantage for the Celeron 2981U (base: 2.13 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-330M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-330M scores 1,032 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-330M vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U.
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.13 GHz | 1.6 GHz+1131% |
| Base Clock | 2.13 GHz+33% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,032 | 1,036 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 317 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 689 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-330M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Celeron 2981U 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-330M) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Core i3-330M offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,PM55,QM57 (Core i3-330M) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x / EPT (Core i3-330M) vs VT-x (Celeron 2981U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale) (Core i3-330M) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2981U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-330M targets Legacy Budget, Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-330M rivals AMD Athlon II P320; Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core i3-330M | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Arrandale) | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | VT-x |
| Target Use | Legacy Budget | Budget |
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