A10-8700P vs Athlon II X4 638

CPU

GPU

A10-8700P

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2015

Similar parts

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Athlon II X4 638

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2012

Similar parts

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A10-8700P vs Athlon II X4 638 Performance Spectrum

A10-8700P

4 / 4

2,254

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X4 638

4 / 4

2,260

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A10-8700P vs Athlon II X4 638 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A10-8700P vs Athlon II X4 638: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A10-8700P

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 99.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.0 vs 7.5 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R6, while Athlon II X4 638 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,254 vs 2,260).

Athlon II X4 638

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.5 vs 15.0 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A10-8700P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A10-8700P better than Athlon II X4 638?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A10-8700P is ahead with a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 638 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 638 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A10-8700P is the better buy right now. A10-8700P comes in $150 cheaper on MSRP at $150 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon II X4 638 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. It is also 99.5% better value on MSRP (15.0 vs 7.5 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A10-8700P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A10-8700P vs Athlon II X4 638 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A10-8700P

The A10-8700P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 2,254 points. Launch price was $130.

Athlon II X4 638

The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the A10-8700P and Athlon II X4 638 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the A10-8700P versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the A10-8700P (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The A10-8700P uses the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A10-8700P scores 2,254 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 638.

Feature	A10-8700P	Athlon II X4 638
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+19%	2.7 GHz
Base Clock	1.8 GHz	2.7 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	2048 kB+100%	1 MB (per core)
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Carrizo (2015−2018)	Llano (2011−2012)
PassMark	2,254	2,260
Geekbench 6 Single	480	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The A10-8700P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the A10-8700P versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 — the A10-8700P supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (A10-8700P) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 638) — the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A10-8700P) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638).

Feature	A10-8700P	Athlon II X4 638
Socket	FP4	FM1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-2133+14%	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	64 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	12	16+33%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A10-8700P) / not specified (Athlon II X4 638). The A10-8700P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R6), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-8700P targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A10-8700P rivals Core i5-5200U.

Feature	A10-8700P	Athlon II X4 638
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon R6	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Budget Laptop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A10-8700P was priced at $150, while the Athlon II X4 638 came in at $300. On launch pricing ($150 vs $300), A10-8700P was $150 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A10-8700P delivers 15.0 pts/$ vs 7.5 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 638 — making the A10-8700P the 66.4% better value option.

Feature	A10-8700P	Athlon II X4 638
MSRP	$150-50%	$300
Performance per Dollar	15.0+100%	7.5
Release Date	2015	2012

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