CPU
GPU
Athlon II X4 638
Phenom II X4 925
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 638 is positioned at rank 1040 and the Phenom II X4 925 is on rank 279, so the Phenom II X4 925 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 925
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 638 and Phenom II X4 925
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.
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 |
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.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Phenom II X4 925 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II X4 638 and Phenom II X4 925
