Athlon II X4 638 vs Core i5-3427U

Athlon II X4 638 vs Core i5-3427U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 638

4 / 4

2,260

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-3427U

2 / 4

2,252

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 638 vs Core i5-3427U 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 638 vs Core i5-3427U: 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 638

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while Core i5-3427U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3427U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-3427U

2012

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Athlon II X4 638 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,252 vs 2,260).
❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 638 better than Core i5-3427U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-3427U is ahead with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 638 pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 638 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 638 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 638 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $300 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-3427U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X4 638 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 638 vs Core i5-3427U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 638

The Athlon II X4 638 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-3427U

The Core i5-3427U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,252 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 638 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3427U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i5-3427U — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-3427U (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-3427U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Core i5-3427U's 2,252 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3427U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Core i5-3427U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	2.8 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+50%	1.8 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)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,260	2,252

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3427U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 1600 on the Core i5-3427U — the Athlon II X4 638 supports 16.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638) and HM76,UM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3427U).

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Core i5-3427U
Socket	FM1	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+17%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 638) / true (Core i5-3427U). The Core i5-3427U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-3427U rivals AMD A8-4555M.