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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-4330

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $445 less on MSRP ($138 MSRP vs $583 MSRP).
✅Delivers 329.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 25.2 vs 5.9 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $583 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 95W, a 41W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4600, while Core i7-880 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-880 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-880.

Core i7-880

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-4330.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,429 vs 3,482).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.9 vs 25.2 PassMark/$ ($583 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
❌75.9% higher power demand at 95W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4330 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-4330

2013

Core i7-880

2010

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $445 less on MSRP ($138 MSRP vs $583 MSRP).
✅Delivers 329.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 25.2 vs 5.9 PassMark/$ ($138 MSRP vs $583 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 95W, a 41W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4600, while Core i7-880 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-4330.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-880 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-880.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,429 vs 3,482).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.9 vs 25.2 PassMark/$ ($583 MSRP vs $138 MSRP).
❌75.9% higher power demand at 95W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4330 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-4330 better than Core i7-880?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-880 is ahead with a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4330 pulls ahead with 1.5% better PassMark. Core i7-880 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4330 is the better fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-4330 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-4330 is $445 cheaper on MSRP at $138 MSRP versus $583 MSRP, and it gives you 1.5% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i7-880 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 329.0% better value on MSRP (25.2 vs 5.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4330 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-4330 Benchmark Check

Core i7-880 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
1080p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	86 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	62 FPS
medium	56 FPS	56 FPS
high	43 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i3-4330 Open Core i7-880

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
1080p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	65 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	78 FPS	86 FPS
high	73 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	57 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	86 FPS
medium	57 FPS	86 FPS
high	40 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	69 FPS

Open Core i3-4330 Open Core i7-880

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
1080p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i3-4330 Open Core i7-880

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
1080p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	86 FPS
medium	87 FPS	86 FPS
high	87 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i3-4330 Open Core i7-880

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-4330 and Core i7-880

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.

Core i7-880

The Core i7-880 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,429 points. Launch price was $583.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-4330 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-880 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-880 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-4330 versus 3.73 GHz on the Core i7-880 — a 6.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-880 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.06 GHz). The Core i3-4330 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-880 uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4330 scores 3,482 against the Core i7-880's 3,429 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i3-4330. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-4330 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-880.

Feature	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.73 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+14%	3.06 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Lynnfield (2009−2010)
PassMark	3,482+2%	3,429
Geekbench 6 Single	—	507
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,478

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4330 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-880 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-4330 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 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	Core i7-880
Socket	LGA1150	LGA1156
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4330) vs Yes (Core i7-880). The Core i3-4330 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Core i7-880 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4330 targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i3-4330	Core i7-880
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 4600	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-4330 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Core i7-880 debuted at $583. On MSRP ($138 vs $583), the Core i3-4330 is $445 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4330 delivers 25.2 pts/$ vs 5.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-880 — making the Core i3-4330 the 124.4% better value option.