Pentium N3530 vs Core i3-370M
Pentium N3530
Core i3-370M
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 Pentium N3530 is positioned at rank 1156 and the Core i3-370M is on rank 570, so the Core i3-370M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium N3530
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-370M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium N3530 | Core i3-370M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium N3530 | Core i3-370M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium N3530 and Core i3-370M
Pentium N3530
The Pentium N3530 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.58 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,159 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-370M
The Core i3-370M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,170 points. Launch price was $245.
Processing Power
The Pentium N3530 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-370M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3530 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.58 GHz on the Pentium N3530 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-370M — a 7.2% clock advantage for the Pentium N3530 (base: 2.16 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Pentium N3530 uses the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-370M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium N3530 scores 1,159 against the Core i3-370M's 1,170 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-370M. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Pentium N3530 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-370M.
| Feature | Pentium N3530 | Core i3-370M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.58 GHz+8% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.16 GHz | 2.4 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,159 | 1,170 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 315 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 700 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium N3530 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-370M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium N3530 | Core i3-370M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium N3530) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-370M). The Core i3-370M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium N3530 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-370M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-370M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | Pentium N3530 | Core i3-370M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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