Core i3-5015U vs Athlon II N330
Core i3-5015U
Athlon II N330
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 i3-5015U is positioned at rank 648 and the Athlon II N330 is on rank 884, so the Core i3-5015U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5015U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5015U | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5015U | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 i3-5015U and Athlon II N330
Core i3-5015U
The Core i3-5015U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,990 points. Launch price was $275.
Athlon II N330
The Athlon II N330 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,999 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5015U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II N330's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-5015U versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II N330. The Core i3-5015U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon II N330 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5015U scores 1,990 against the Athlon II N330's 1,999 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II N330.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.3 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,990 | 1,999 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5015U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II N330 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5015U versus 1066 on the Athlon II N330 — the Athlon II N330 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-5015U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5015U) vs 0 (Athlon II N330) — the Core i3-5015U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+209715100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5015U) vs true (Athlon II N330). The Core i3-5015U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5500), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5015U targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 5500 | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-5015U and Athlon II N330
