Core i3-530 vs Phenom II X2 N640
Core i3-530
Phenom II X2 N640
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 i3-530 is positioned at rank 933 and the Phenom II X2 N640 is on rank 977, so the Core i3-530 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-530
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 N640
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+269%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
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 i3-530 and Phenom II X2 N640
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.
Phenom II X2 N640
The Phenom II X2 N640 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: 2.9 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,505 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-530 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Phenom II X2 N640's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Core i3-530 versus 2.9 GHz on the Phenom II X2 N640 — a 102.9% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 N640. The Core i3-530 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 N640 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-530 scores 1,516 against the Phenom II X2 N640's 1,505 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-530.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz | 2.9 GHz+212% |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,516 | 1,505 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 422 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-530 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 N640 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-530) / AMD-V (Phenom II X2 N640). Primary use case: Phenom II X2 N640 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-530 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Phenom II X2 N640 debuted at $100. At current prices ($15 vs $55), the Core i3-530 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-530 delivers 101.1 pts/$ vs 27.4 pts/$ for the Phenom II X2 N640 — making the Core i3-530 the 114.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $113 | $100-12% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-73% | $55 |
| Performance per Dollar | 101.1+269% | 27.4 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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