A4-4000 vs Pentium N3520

A4-4000 vs Pentium N3520 Performance Spectrum

A4-4000

2 / 2

1,152

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium N3520

4 / 4

1,144

0.0%

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 N3520 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 N3520: 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

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7480D, while Pentium N3520 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium N3520.

Trade-offs

❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.

Pentium N3520

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,144 vs 1,152).
❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while A4-4000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌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 N3520?

Yes. A4-4000 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A4-4000 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-4000 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

A4-4000 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. A4-4000 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium N3520 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 0.5% in the shared gaming data.

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

Pentium N3520 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

A4-4000 vs Pentium N3520 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 N3520

The Pentium N3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.17 GHz, with boost up to 2.42 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $161.

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Processing Power

The A4-4000 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3520 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the A4-4000 versus 2.42 GHz on the Pentium N3520 — a 27.8% clock advantage for the A4-4000 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.17 GHz). The A4-4000 uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium N3520 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4000 scores 1,152 against the Pentium N3520's 1,144 — a 0.7% lead for the A4-4000. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A4-4000 vs 2 MB on the Pentium N3520.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium N3520
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+32%	2.42 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+38%	2.17 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB+100%
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Richland (2013−2014)	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,152	1,144
Geekbench 6 Single	348	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-4000 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium N3520 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A4-4000	Pentium N3520
Socket	FM2	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
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 N3520). The A4-4000 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7480D), while the Pentium N3520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4000 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-4000 rivals Celeron G1610.