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