Athlon II X4 638 vs Phenom II X4 925

Athlon II X4 638 vs Phenom II X4 925 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 638

4 / 4

2,260

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Phenom II X4 925

4 / 4

2,261

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 Phenom II X4 925 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 Phenom II X4 925: 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

✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,260 vs 2,261).
❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 925 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X4 925

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X4 925 better than Athlon II X4 638?

Yes. Phenom II X4 925 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Phenom II X4 925 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% 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, Phenom II X4 925 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Phenom II X4 925 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X4 925 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 638 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (7.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Athlon II X4 638 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 638 vs Phenom II X4 925 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.

Phenom II X4 925

The Phenom II X4 925 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (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: 6 MB (total). 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: 2,261 points. Launch price was $160.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 638 and Phenom II X4 925 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 925 — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 925 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 925 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Phenom II X4 925's 2,261 — a 0% lead for the Phenom II X4 925. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 925.

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Phenom II X4 925
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	2.8 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	2.8 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	2,260	2,261

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 925 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.