Athlon X4 870K vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

Athlon X4 870K vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 870K

4 / 4

3,443

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

4 / 4

3,489

+1.3%

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 870K vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition 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 Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition: 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: +13.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 95W instead of 125W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,443 vs 3,489).
❌Launch MSRP is still $90 MSRP, while Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

2009

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 870K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌31.6% higher power demand at 125W vs 95W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 870K better than Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon X4 870K is ahead with a 13.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 870K is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 870K comes in at an unclear MSRP at $90 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.3% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon X4 870K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 870K vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition 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.

Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition

The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,489 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon X4 870K and Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K versus 2 GHz on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition — a 68.9% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 870K. The Athlon X4 870K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition's 3,489 — a 1.3% lead for the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition.

Feature	Athlon X4 870K	Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+105%	2 GHz
Base Clock	3.9 GHz	—
L3 Cache	—	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	4 MB+700%	512 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-38%	45 nm
Architecture	Godaveri (2014−2016)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	3,443	3,489+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.