A4-4000 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 965

A4-4000 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 965 Performance Spectrum

A4-4000

2 / 2

1,152

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium Extreme Edition 965

2 / 4

1,165

+1.1%

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.

A4-4000 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 965 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.

A4-4000 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 965: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A4-4000

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 130W, a 65W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7480D, while Pentium Extreme Edition 965 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Extreme Edition 965.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,152 vs 1,165).

Pentium Extreme Edition 965

2006

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $999 MSRP, while A4-4000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌100% higher power demand at 130W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-4000 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A4-4000.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-4000 better than Pentium Extreme Edition 965?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A4-4000 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Extreme Edition 965 pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

A4-4000 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A4-4000 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $999 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium Extreme Edition 965 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2006 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (1.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.

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

A4-4000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A4-4000 vs Pentium Extreme Edition 965 Technical Specifications

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

A4-4000

The A4-4000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,152 points. Launch price was $50.

Pentium Extreme Edition 965

The Pentium Extreme Edition 965 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 March 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Presler (2005−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.733 GHz, with boost up to 0.73 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 1,165 points. Launch price was $999.

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Processing Power

The A4-4000 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the A4-4000 versus 0.73 GHz on the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 — a 125.7% clock advantage for the A4-4000 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.733 GHz). The A4-4000 uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses Presler (2005−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4000 scores 1,152 against the Pentium Extreme Edition 965's 1,165 — a 1.1% lead for the Pentium Extreme Edition 965.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+338%	0.73 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.733 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+100%
Process	32 nm-51%	65 nm
Architecture	Richland (2013−2014)	Presler (2005−2007)
PassMark	1,152	1,165+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	348	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-4000 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium Extreme Edition 965
Socket	FM2	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+173%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-4000) / not specified (Pentium Extreme Edition 965). The A4-4000 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7480D), while the Pentium Extreme Edition 965 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4000 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-4000 rivals Celeron G1610.