
Phenom II X3 705e vs Atom 330

Phenom II X3 705e

Atom 330
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 X3 705e is positioned at rank 423 and the Atom 330 is on rank 39, so the Atom 330 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 X3 705e
Performance Per Dollar Atom 330
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 705e | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Diamondville (2008−2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 705e | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+132%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($69) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
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 X3 705e and Atom 330

Phenom II X3 705e
The Phenom II X3 705e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,519 points. Launch price was $152.

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
The Phenom II X3 705e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Atom 330 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X3 705e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Phenom II X3 705e versus 0.1 GHz on the Atom 330 — a 184.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 705e (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Phenom II X3 705e uses the Heka (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom 330 uses Diamondville (2008−2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 705e scores 1,519 against the Atom 330's 1,530 — a 0.7% lead for the Atom 330. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 705e vs 0 kB on the Atom 330.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 705e | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+2400% | 0.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+56% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | Diamondville (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,519 | 1,530 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 705e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom 330 uses PBGA437 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 705e | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | 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
At current prices ($69 vs $30), the Atom 330 is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X3 705e delivers 22.0 pts/$ vs 51.0 pts/$ for the Atom 330 — making the Atom 330 the 79.4% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 705e | Atom 330 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $43 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $69 | $30-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.0 | 51.0+132% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2008 |
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