Core i3-390M vs C-50
Core i3-390M
C-50
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 i3-390M is positioned at rank 585 and the C-50 is on rank 777, 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 Core i3-390M
Performance Per Dollar C-50
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-390M | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ontario (2011−2012) / 40 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-390M | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core i3-390M and C-50
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-390M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the C-50's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M versus 1 GHz on the C-50 — a 39.5% clock advantage for the C-50. The Core i3-390M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the C-50 uses Ontario (2011−2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-390M scores 1,292 against the C-50's 1,282 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-390M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-390M vs 0 kB on the C-50.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 1 GHz+49% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-20% | 40 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Ontario (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,292 | 1,282 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-390M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the C-50 uses FT1 (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: 2 (Core i3-390M) vs 1 (C-50). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-390M) vs 4 (C-50) — the Core i3-390M offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FT1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+100% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-390M) / not specified (C-50). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) and Radeon HD 6250 (C-50) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | Radeon HD 6250 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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