Athlon II X4 645 vs Core i7-3517UE
Athlon II X4 645
Core i7-3517UE
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 645 is positioned at rank 819 and the Core i7-3517UE is on rank 1154, so the Athlon II X4 645 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 645
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3517UE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+74%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 645 and Core i7-3517UE
Athlon II X4 645
The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. 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: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.
Core i7-3517UE
The Core i7-3517UE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 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 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,384 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 645 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3517UE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 645 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i7-3517UE — a 10.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 645 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Athlon II X4 645 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-3517UE uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 645 scores 2,375 against the Core i7-3517UE's 2,384 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-3517UE. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3517UE.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+11% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+82% | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,375 | 2,384 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,374 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 399 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,374 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 645 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3517UE uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Athlon II X4 645) / not specified (Core i7-3517UE). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 645 launched at $126 MSRP, while the Core i7-3517UE debuted at $330. At current prices ($20 vs $35), the Athlon II X4 645 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 645 delivers 118.8 pts/$ vs 68.1 pts/$ for the Core i7-3517UE — making the Athlon II X4 645 the 54.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i7-3517UE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $126-62% | $330 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-43% | $35 |
| Performance per Dollar | 118.8+74% | 68.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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