Intel Core i3 330M

The Intel Core i3-330M is a lower-middle class dual core CPU for laptops and clocks with 2.16 GHz. The difference to the Core i5-430M is the lacking Turbo Boost overclocking and the slower core speed. Each core is based on the Nehalem (Westemere) micro-architecture. Hyperthreading enables the Dual Core CPU to handle 4 threads at once (for a better usage of the pipeline).

A feature of the new Core i3-330M is the integrated graphics card called Intel HD Graphics or GMA HD and a DDR3 1066 MHz memory controller. Both are on a separate die that is still manufactured in 45nm whereas the CPU die is already manufactured in the new 32nm process.

The performance in synthetic benchmarks is mostly on par with a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 (due to the improved hyperthreading). The speed should be at least as fast as a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo and therefore the i3-330M positions itself in the middle class (lower middle class regarding Core i CPUs). It should handle all applications well, but some demanding games could profit from a faster CPU.

The 32nm CPU cores of the Westmere generation can also process some new instructions to accelerate AES encryptions. In the i3-330M Intel has deactivated these new AES functions.

The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (GMA HD) graphics card is known to be clocked up to 500 MHz and should be clearly faster than the old GMA 4500MHD. The Core i5 and i7 models should still be a bit faster because of the higher max. clock speed of the GPU. A GeForce 9400M (ION) should still be a faster (especially as Nvidia and ATI cards have a better driver support than Intel up to now). According to rumors, the GMA core will also use the Turbo Mode regulate the clock speed.

The power consumption of 35 Watt TDP (max.) counts for the whole package and therefore it is clearly better than the 35 Watt TDP of the Core 2 Duo T-series (CPU alone).

Series	Intel Core i3
Codename	Arrandale
Clock Rate	2130 MHz
Front Side Bus	2500 MHz
Level 2 Cache	512 KB
Level 3 Cache	3072 KB
Number of Cores / Threads	2 / 4
Max. Power Consumption (TDP = Thermal Design Power)	35 Watt
Transistor Count	177+382 Million
Manufacturing Technology	32 nm
Features	0.775 - 1 V (low frequency mode) 0.8 - 1.4 V
Die Size	81+114 mm2
Max. Temperature	90 (rPGA) -100 (BGA) °C
Socket	BGA1288, PGA988
Features	Hyper Threading, Enhanced Speedstep, integrated GMA HD 500MHz, integrated DDR3 1066 memory controller
64 Bit	64 Bit support
Hardware Virtualization	VT-x
Announcement Date	01/10/2010
Product Link (external)	Intel Core i3 330M

CPU Benchmarks

3DMark 06 - CPU:

100%

min: 1906 avg: 2206 (30%) max: 2280 Points

Model	Memory	GPU			Result
Vaio VPCEA1S1E/W	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5145	720 / 800MHz	512MB GDDR3 8.14.10.0708	1906
Thinkpad L512 2597-5VG	2048 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics		igdumd64 8.15.10.2057	2119
Thinkpad L412 0530-5ZG	2048 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics			2140
Lenovo Ideapad V360-3	3072 MB	GeForce 305M	525 / 700MHz	512MB DDR3 188.98	2152
MB6	4096 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics			2169
Vaio VPC-S11M1E	4096 MB	GeForce 310M	625 / 790MHz	512MB DDR3 187.83	2173
P7615	4096 MB	GeForce GT 330M	575 / 790MHz	1024MB + Intel HD Optimus 189.72	2194
Qosmio F60	4096 MB	GeForce GT 330M	475 / 700MHz	1024MB nvlddmkm 8.16.11.8798	2203
Satellite A660-151	4096 MB	GeForce GT 330M	500 / 790MHz	1024MB DDR4 ForceWare 189.72	2205
G62-110sw	3072 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics		8.15.10.2008	2207
P530 Pro	2048 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics			2211
Vaio VPC-CW2S1E/L	4096 MB	GeForce GT 330M	575 / MHz	512MB DDR3 8.16.11.8783	2219
HP Probook 4520s	3072 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 4350	450 / 600MHz	512MB	2231
Aspire 5741G-334G50Mn	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5470	750 / 800MHz	512MB GDDR3 8.14.10.0716	2235
Satellite Pro L670-13L	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5650	450 / 800MHz	1024MB GDDR3 ATI Catalyst 10.3	2236
Satellite L550-207	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5165	600 / 800MHz	1024MB GDDR3 8.14.10.0697	2237
ProBook 4720s WD888EA	2048 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 4350	450 / 600MHz	512MB ATI Catalyst 9.11	2239
Acer Aspire 5740-333G24Mi	3072 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics			2245
Toshiba Satellite L500-1uu	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5145		512MB	2245
Lifebook AH550	4096 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics		8.15.10.1995	2247
Aspire 3820TG-334G50N	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5470	750 / 800MHz	512MB DDR3 VRAM, Switchable Graphics Intel HD atiumdag 8.14.10.0723	2248
Toshiba Satellite L505-13V	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5165		1024MB	2248
Aspire 8942G-334G64Mn	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5650	550 / 800MHz	1024MB DDR3 8.14.10.0708	2250
Vaio VPC-EC1M1E	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5470	750 / 790MHz	512MB GDDR3 8.14.10.0708	2257
GE600-027XPL	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5730	650 / 800MHz	1024MB GDDR3, dodatkowo Intel GMA HD ATI Catalyst 9.12	2266
G62-130EG	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 5430	500 / 800MHz	512MB GDDR3 8.681.0.0	2280
Standard 1280x768
Satellite Pro S500-115	4096 MB	Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics		8.15.10.1995	2204
Standard 1280x720
R580-JS02PL	3072 MB	GeForce 310M	625 / 790MHz	512MB DDR3 ForceWare 187.87	2203
Inspiron 1564	4096 MB	Mobility Radeon HD 4330	450 / 600MHz	512MB DDR3 8.692.1.0	2207