CPU
GPU
Athlon X4 845
Opteron 3280
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 X4 845 is positioned at rank 393 and the Opteron 3280 is on rank 93, so the Opteron 3280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 845
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 3280
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 845 | Opteron 3280 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zurich (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 845 | Opteron 3280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 X4 845 and Opteron 3280
Athlon X4 845
The Athlon X4 845 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,768 points. Launch price was $149.
Opteron 3280
The Opteron 3280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,783 points. Launch price was $229.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 845 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Opteron 3280 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 3280 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 845 versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 3280 — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 845 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon X4 845 uses the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture (28 nm), while the Opteron 3280 uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 845 scores 3,768 against the Opteron 3280's 3,783 — a 0.4% lead for the Opteron 3280.
| Feature | Athlon X4 845 | Opteron 3280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+9% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+40% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 8 MB+300% |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Carrizo (2015−2018) | Zurich (2012) |
| PassMark | 3,768 | 3,783 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 845 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 3280 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 845 | Opteron 3280 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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