Athlon X4 880K vs Core i5-7300U
Athlon X4 880K
Core i5-7300U
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 880K is positioned at rank 511 and the Core i5-7300U is on rank 611, so the Athlon X4 880K 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 880K
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7300U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 880K | Core i5-7300U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 880K | Core i5-7300U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 880K and Core i5-7300U
Athlon X4 880K
The Athlon X4 880K 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 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 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: 3,649 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-7300U
The Core i5-7300U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,631 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 880K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-7300U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 880K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 880K versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300U — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 880K (base: 4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 880K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-7300U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 880K scores 3,649 against the Core i5-7300U's 3,631 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon X4 880K.
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | Core i5-7300U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+20% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+54% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,649 | 3,631 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 880K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-7300U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 880K versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i5-7300U — the Core i5-7300U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 880K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 880K) vs 12 (Core i5-7300U) — the Athlon X4 880K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | Core i5-7300U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 880K) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7300U). The Core i5-7300U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Athlon X4 880K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | Core i5-7300U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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