Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i3-5010U

Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i3-5010U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 630

4 / 4

2,175

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-5010U

2 / 4

2,157

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 X4 630 vs Core i3-5010U 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 X4 630 vs Core i3-5010U: 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 X4 630

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 512W, a 417W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-5010U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $129 MSRP, while Core i3-5010U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-5010U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-5010U

2015

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 5500, while Athlon II X4 630 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,157 vs 2,175).
❌438.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 95W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 630.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 630 better than Core i3-5010U?

Yes. Athlon II X4 630 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% 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 X4 630 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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, Athlon II X4 630 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 630 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 630 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $129 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (16.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-5010U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i3-5010U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 630

The Athlon II X4 630 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 2,175 points. Launch price was $63.

Core i3-5010U

The Core i3-5010U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,157 points. Launch price was $281.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 630 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-5010U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 630 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 630 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-5010U — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 630 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 630 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-5010U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 630 scores 2,175 against the Core i3-5010U's 2,157 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X4 630. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 630 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5010U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 630	Core i3-5010U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+33%	2.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+33%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Broadwell-U (2015)
PassMark	2,175	2,157
Geekbench 6 Single	—	737

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 630 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-5010U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 630 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5010U — the Core i3-5010U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 630) vs 12 (Core i3-5010U) — the Athlon II X4 630 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon II X4 630	Core i3-5010U
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 630 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 630) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-5010U). The Core i3-5010U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5500), while the Athlon II X4 630 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5010U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-5010U rivals A10-8700P.