Athlon X4 845 vs PRO A12-8870

Athlon X4 845 vs PRO A12-8870 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 845

4 / 4

3,768

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

PRO A12-8870

4 / 4

3,805

+1.0%

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 X4 845 vs PRO A12-8870 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 X4 845 vs PRO A12-8870: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon X4 845

2016

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,768 vs 3,805).
❌Launch MSRP is still $70 MSRP, while PRO A12-8870 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

PRO A12-8870

2016

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is PRO A12-8870 better than Athlon X4 845?

Yes. PRO A12-8870 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, PRO A12-8870 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% 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, PRO A12-8870 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

PRO A12-8870 is still the much better call for a fresh build. PRO A12-8870 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $70 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon X4 845 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2016 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (53.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM2+.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

PRO A12-8870 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X4 845 vs PRO A12-8870 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

PRO A12-8870

The PRO A12-8870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Outubro 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,805 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon X4 845 and PRO A12-8870 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 845 versus 4.2 GHz on the PRO A12-8870 — a 10% clock advantage for the PRO A12-8870 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). Both are built on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture using a 28 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon X4 845 scores 3,768 against the PRO A12-8870's 3,805 — a 1% lead for the PRO A12-8870.

Feature	Athlon X4 845	PRO A12-8870
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	4.2 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2048 kB
Process	28 nm	28 nm
Architecture	Carrizo (2015−2018)	Carrizo (2015−2018)
PassMark	3,768	3,805

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 845 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the PRO A12-8870 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.