Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i5-4200U

Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i5-4200U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 630

4 / 4

2,175

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-4200U

2 / 4

2,176

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 i5-4200U 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 i5-4200U: 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 i5-4200U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,175 vs 2,176).
❌Launch MSRP is still $129 MSRP, while Core i5-4200U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-4200U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-4200U

2013

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Athlon II X4 630 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌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 i5-4200U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 630 is ahead with a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4200U pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4200U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 2 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 $129 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-4200U is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (16.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-4200U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 630 vs Core i5-4200U 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 i5-4200U

The Core i5-4200U 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 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,176 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 630 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4200U 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 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4200U — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 630 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X4 630 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4200U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 630 scores 2,175 against the Core i5-4200U's 2,176 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-4200U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 630 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4200U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 630	Core i5-4200U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+8%	2.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+75%	1.6 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	Propus (2009−2011)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,175	2,176
Geekbench 6 Single	—	733

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 630 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4200U 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 i5-4200U — the Core i5-4200U 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 i5-4200U) — the Athlon II X4 630 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 630) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i5-4200U).

Feature	Athlon II X4 630	Core i5-4200U
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 i5-4200U). The Core i5-4200U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon II X4 630 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4200U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4200U rivals A6-5350M.