A10-9700 vs Athlon X4 950

A10-9700 vs Athlon X4 950 Performance Spectrum

A10-9700

4 / 4

3,555

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 950

4 / 4

3,576

+0.6%

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.

A10-9700 vs Athlon X4 950 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.

A10-9700 vs Athlon X4 950: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A10-9700

2017

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon X4 950 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (642 vs 656).
❌Lower PassMark (3,555 vs 3,576).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.0 vs 61.7 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $58 MSRP).

Athlon X4 950

2017

Why buy it

✅+2.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $111 less on MSRP ($58 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
✅Delivers 193.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.7 vs 21.0 PassMark/$ ($58 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while A10-9700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 950 better than A10-9700?

Yes. Athlon X4 950 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 950 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 950 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 950 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 950 comes in $111 cheaper on MSRP at $58 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 193.1% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 21.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon X4 950 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A10-9700 vs Athlon X4 950 Technical Specifications

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

A10-9700

The A10-9700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,555 points. Launch price was $90.

Athlon X4 950

The Athlon X4 950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,576 points. Launch price was $60.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the A10-9700 and Athlon X4 950 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A10-9700 versus 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 950 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). Both are built on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture using a 28 nm process. In PassMark, the A10-9700 scores 3,555 against the Athlon X4 950's 3,576 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon X4 950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 642 vs 656, a 2.2% lead for the Athlon X4 950 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	A10-9700	Athlon X4 950
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	2048 kB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm	28 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,555	3,576
Geekbench 6 Single	642	656+2%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,637

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 8 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A10-9700) and Socket AM4 (Athlon X4 950).

Feature	A10-9700	Athlon X4 950
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A10-9700 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 950 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-9700 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-9700 rivals Pentium G4560.

Feature	A10-9700	Athlon X4 950
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon R7	—
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A10-9700 was priced at $169, while the Athlon X4 950 came in at $58. On launch pricing ($169 vs $58), Athlon X4 950 was $111 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A10-9700 delivers 21.0 pts/$ vs 61.7 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 950 — making the Athlon X4 950 the 98.2% better value option.

Feature	A10-9700	Athlon X4 950
MSRP	$169	$58-66%
Performance per Dollar	21.0	61.7+194%
Release Date	2017	2017

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