Athlon II X4 638 vs Ryzen 7 5700X
Athlon II X4 638
Ryzen 7 5700X
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. The Athlon II X4 638 is positioned at rank #1040 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 5700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($175) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1784%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($175) |
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 Ryzen 7 5700X
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.
Ryzen 7 5700X
The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 638 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X — a 52.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Ryzen 7 5700X's 26,609 — a 168.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 5700X.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz+70% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.4 GHz+26% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 7 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 2,260 | 26,609+1077% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 14,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,116 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 9,715 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 5700X — the Ryzen 7 5700X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 5700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 638) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 5700X) — the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700X).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 638) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 638 launched at $300 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5700X debuted at $299. At current prices ($280 vs $175), the Ryzen 7 5700X is $105 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 638 delivers 8.1 pts/$ vs 152.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700X — making the Ryzen 7 5700X the 179.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Ryzen 7 5700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $280 | $175-38% |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.1 | 152.1+1778% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2022 |
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