Core i3-4330 vs Athlon X4 870K
Core i3-4330
Athlon X4 870K
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 i3-4330 is positioned at rank 687 and the Athlon X4 870K is on rank 515, so the Athlon X4 870K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4330
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 870K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+70%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
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 i3-4330 and Athlon X4 870K
Core i3-4330
The Core i3-4330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $171.
Athlon X4 870K
The Athlon X4 870K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,443 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4330 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 870K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-4330 versus 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K — a 15.8% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 870K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i3-4330 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon X4 870K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4330 scores 3,482 against the Athlon X4 870K's 3,443 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-4330.
| Feature | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.1 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,482+1% | 3,443 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4330 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 870K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Athlon X4 870K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4330) / not specified (Athlon X4 870K). The Core i3-4330 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Athlon X4 870K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4330 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4600 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-4330 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 870K debuted at $90. At current prices ($60 vs $35), the Athlon X4 870K is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4330 delivers 58.0 pts/$ vs 98.4 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 870K — making the Athlon X4 870K the 51.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-4330 | Athlon X4 870K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $138 | $90-35% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60 | $35-42% |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.0 | 98.4+70% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2015 |
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