Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-4158U

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-4158U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 455

3 / 3

1,938

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-4158U

2 / 4

1,921

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.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-4158U 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.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-4158U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X3 455

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $88 MSRP, while Core i3-4158U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4158U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-4158U

2013

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Iris Graphics 5100, while Athlon II X3 455 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,921 vs 1,938).
❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X3 455 better than Core i3-4158U?

Yes. Athlon II X3 455 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X3 455 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% 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 II X3 455 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Athlon II X3 455 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X3 455 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $88 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-4158U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i3-4158U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 455

The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.

Core i3-4158U

The Core i3-4158U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,921 points. Launch price was $315.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 455 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-4158U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 455 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-4158U — a 49.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon II X3 455 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-4158U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 455 scores 1,938 against the Core i3-4158U's 1,921 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon II X3 455. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4158U.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-4158U
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+65%	2 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+65%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,938	1,921
Geekbench 6 Single	—	457

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 455 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4158U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 455 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4158U — the Core i3-4158U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 455 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 455) vs 12 (Core i3-4158U) — the Core i3-4158U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 455) and HM86,HM87 (Core i3-4158U).

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i3-4158U
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 455) / VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i3-4158U). The Core i3-4158U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Athlon II X3 455 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4158U targets Multimedia.