Core i7-620M vs Athlon II N330
Core i7-620M
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 i7-620M is positioned at rank 262 and the Athlon II N330 is on rank 884, so the Core i7-620M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-620M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-620M | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-620M | 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 i7-620M and Athlon II N330
Core i7-620M
The Core i7-620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,976 points. Launch price was $332.
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 i7-620M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II N330's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-620M versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II N330 — a 36.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-620M. The Core i7-620M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II N330 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-620M scores 1,976 against the Athlon II N330's 1,999 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II N330.
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz+45% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,976 | 1,999+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-620M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II N330 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i7-620M 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. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-620M) vs 0 (Athlon II N330) — the Core i7-620M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57 (Core i7-620M) and S1g4 (Athlon II N330).
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+104857500% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-620M) vs true (Athlon II N330). The Core i7-620M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II N330 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-620M rivals Core 2 Duo T9600; Athlon II N330 rivals Pentium P6100.
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II N330 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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