Athlon X4 870K vs Core i3-7100H

Athlon X4 870K vs Core i3-7100H Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 870K

4 / 4

3,443

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-7100H

2 / 4

3,450

+0.2%

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 870K vs Core i3-7100H 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 870K vs Core i3-7100H: 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 870K

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.6% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,443 vs 3,450).
❌Launch MSRP is still $90 MSRP, while Core i3-7100H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-7100H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-7100H

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 630, while Athlon X4 870K needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 870K across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-7100H better than Athlon X4 870K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon X4 870K is ahead with a 8.6% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-7100H pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-7100H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-7100H is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-7100H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $90 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. Athlon X4 870K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (38.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i3-7100H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 2 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 870K vs Core i3-7100H Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 870K

The Athlon X4 870K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,443 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-7100H

The Core i3-7100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,450 points. Launch price was $393.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 870K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7100H offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-7100H — a 37.7% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 870K (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Athlon X4 870K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-7100H uses Kaby Lake-H (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Core i3-7100H's 3,450 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-7100H.

Feature	Athlon X4 870K	Core i3-7100H
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+46%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.9 GHz+30%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB	256K (per core)+6300%
Process	28 nm	14 nm-50%
Architecture	Godaveri (2014−2016)	Kaby Lake-H (2017)
PassMark	3,443	3,450
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,011

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7100H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 870K versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-7100H — the Core i3-7100H supports 12.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 870K) and HM175,QM175,CM238 (Core i3-7100H).

Feature	Athlon X4 870K	Core i3-7100H
Socket	FM2+	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-2133	DDR4-2400+13%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 870K) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7100H). The Core i3-7100H includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Athlon X4 870K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100H targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100H rivals Ryzen 3 2300U.