Athlon II X4 631 vs Core i5-4250U

Athlon II X4 631 vs Core i5-4250U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 631

4 / 4

2,118

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-4250U

2 / 4

2,144

+1.2%

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 631 vs Core i5-4250U 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 631 vs Core i5-4250U: 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 631

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 100W instead of 512W, a 412W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,118 vs 2,144).
❌Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Core i5-4250U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-4250U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-4250U

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 5000, while Athlon II X4 631 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌412% higher power demand at 512W vs 100W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-4250U better than Athlon II X4 631?

Yes. Core i5-4250U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4250U is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-4250U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-4250U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $80 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 631 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (26.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM1.

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

Core i5-4250U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) 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 631 vs Core i5-4250U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 631

The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-4250U

The Core i5-4250U 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 1.3 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: 2,144 points. Launch price was $430.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4250U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4250U — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4250U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Core i5-4250U's 2,144 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-4250U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4250U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core i5-4250U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	2.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+100%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,118	2,144+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	770
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,450

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4250U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 631 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-4250U — the Athlon II X4 631 supports 16.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 631 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 631) vs 12 (Core i5-4250U) — the Athlon II X4 631 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 631) and Haswell-ULT (Core i5-4250U).

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core i5-4250U
Socket	FM1	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+17%	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+300%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 631) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4250U). The Core i5-4250U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5000), while the Athlon II X4 631 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4250U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-4250U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.