Core i3-530 vs Atom 330

Core i3-530

2 Cores4 Thrd73 WWMax: 0.93 GHz2010

Atom 330

2 Cores4 Thrd8 WWMax: 0.1 GHz2008

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-530

2 / 4

1,516

0.0%

1,530

+0.9%

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 i3-530 is positioned at rank 933 and the Atom 330 is on rank 39, so the Atom 330 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-530

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

23228%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

21948%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

15936%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

4801%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

3803%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

3327%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

1905%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

1880%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

1712%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

1712%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

1693%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

1647%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

1624%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

1618%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

1603%

#303

Core i7-5960X

MSRP: $999|Avg: $83

100%

#933

Core i3-530

MSRP: $113|Avg: $15

100%

#935

Core i3-2105

MSRP: $138|Avg: $30

99%

#936

Athlon II X3 405e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

99%

#937

Core i3-3225

MSRP: $172|Avg: $167

99%

#938

Athlon II X3 400e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

98%

#939

Core i3-3220T

MSRP: $149|Avg: $146

98%

#940

Athlon II X2 245e

MSRP: $87|Avg: $15

98%

#941

Athlon II X2 240e

MSRP: $77|Avg: $77

97%

#942

Pentium G630T

MSRP: $79|Avg: $15

97%

#943

Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition

MSRP: $990|Avg: $175

97%

#946

Core i5-650

MSRP: $176|Avg: $22

95%

#947

A10-6790B

MSRP: $122|Avg: $50

94%

#948

Phenom X3 8600

MSRP: $100|Avg: $20

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Atom 330

#10

Ryzen 7 260

MSRP: $199|Avg: $70

93%

#27

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

192%

#28

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

189%

#29

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

173%

#30

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

173%

#31

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

171%

#33

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

165%

#34

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

158%

#35

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

158%

#36

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

154%

#39

Atom 330

MSRP: $43|Avg: $30

100%

#43

Core 2 Duo SU7300

MSRP: $289|Avg: N/A

98%

#51

Celeron N2807

MSRP: $107|Avg: $60

91%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i3-530 leads in gaming performance. However, the Atom 330 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.9% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i3-530	Atom 330
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($15)	⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Diamondville (2008−2009) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i3-530 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 50% cheaper ($15 vs $30) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i3-530	Atom 330
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+98%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($15)	⚠️ Higher cost ($30)

Performance Check

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 i3-530 Benchmark Check

Atom 330 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-530 and Atom 330

Core i3-530

The Core i3-530 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,516 points. Launch price was $60.

Atom 330

The Atom 330 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Diamondville (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,530 points. Launch price was $43.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-530 and Atom 330 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Core i3-530 versus 0.1 GHz on the Atom 330 — a 161.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-530 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-530 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom 330 uses Diamondville (2008−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-530 scores 1,516 against the Atom 330's 1,530 — a 0.9% lead for the Atom 330. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-530 vs 0 kB on the Atom 330.

Feature	Core i3-530	Atom 330
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	0.93 GHz+830%	0.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.93 GHz+83%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	0 kB
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1 MB+300%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Diamondville (2008−2009)
PassMark	1,516	1,530

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-530 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom 330 uses PBGA437 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-530	Atom 330
Socket	LGA1156	PBGA437
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR2-533
Max RAM Capacity	—	4 GB
RAM Channels	—	1
ECC Support	—	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	0

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-530 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Atom 330 debuted at $43. At current prices ($15 vs $30), the Core i3-530 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-530 delivers 101.1 pts/$ vs 51.0 pts/$ for the Atom 330 — making the Core i3-530 the 65.8% better value option.