Athlon X4 950 vs A10-9700
Athlon X4 950
A10-9700
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 950 is positioned at rank 344 and the A10-9700 is on rank 771, so the Athlon X4 950 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 950
Performance Per Dollar A10-9700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+168%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 950 and A10-9700
Athlon X4 950
The Athlon X4 950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,576 points. Launch price was $60.
A10-9700
The A10-9700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. 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: 3,555 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 950 and A10-9700 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 950 versus 3.8 GHz on the A10-9700 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). Both are built on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture using a 28 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon X4 950 scores 3,576 against the A10-9700's 3,555 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon X4 950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 656 vs 642, a 2.2% lead for the Athlon X4 950 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2048 kB+300% |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,576 | 3,555 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 656+2% | 642 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,637 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 8 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Socket AM4 (Athlon X4 950) and A320,B350,X370 (A10-9700).
| Feature | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A10-9700 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 950 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-9700 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-9700 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 950 launched at $58 MSRP, while the A10-9700 debuted at $169. At current prices ($15 vs $40), the Athlon X4 950 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 950 delivers 238.4 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the A10-9700 — making the Athlon X4 950 the 91.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 950 | A10-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $58-66% | $169 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-63% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 238.4+168% | 88.9 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2017 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon X4 950 and A10-9700
