A4-4020 vs Core i5-450M

A4-4020 vs Core i5-450M Performance Spectrum

A4-4020

2 / 2

1,269

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-450M

2 / 4

1,264

0.0%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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.

A4-4020 vs Core i5-450M 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.

A4-4020 vs Core i5-450M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A4-4020

2014

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-450M.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core i5-450M

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,264 vs 1,269).
❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while A4-4020 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A4-4020.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-4020 better than Core i5-450M?

Yes. A4-4020 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% 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, A4-4020 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.3% 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, A4-4020 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

A4-4020 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A4-4020 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-450M only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (39.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA988.

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

A4-4020 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-4020 vs Core i5-450M Technical Specifications

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

A4-4020

The A4-4020 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,269 points. Launch price was $50.

Core i5-450M

The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.

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Processing Power

The A4-4020 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-450M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the A4-4020 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M — a 24.4% clock advantage for the A4-4020 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The A4-4020 uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-450M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4020 scores 1,269 against the Core i5-450M's 1,264 — a 0.4% lead for the A4-4020.

Feature	A4-4020	Core i5-450M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+28%	2.66 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+33%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (total)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Richland (2013−2014)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,269	1,264
Geekbench 6 Single	341	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-4020 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the A4-4020 versus 1066 on the Core i5-450M — the A4-4020 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A4-4020 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A4-4020) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M).

Feature	A4-4020	Core i5-450M
Socket	FM2	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+25%	1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-4020) vs true (Core i5-450M). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 7480D (A4-4020) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i5-450M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4020 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-4020 rivals Pentium G3220; Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.