Athlon X4 970 vs Core i5-4288U

CPU

GPU

Athlon X4 970

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 4 GHz2017

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Core i5-4288U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2013

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Athlon X4 970 vs Core i5-4288U Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 970

4 / 4

2,644

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-4288U

2 / 4

2,659

+0.6%

Core Duo T2400

Pentium Dual Core T2390

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 970 vs Core i5-4288U 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 970 vs Core i5-4288U: 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 970

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $257 less on MSRP ($85 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Delivers 300.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 31.1 vs 7.8 PassMark/$ ($85 MSRP vs $342 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,644 vs 2,659).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-4288U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-4288U

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Iris Graphics 5100, while Athlon X4 970 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 970 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.8 vs 31.1 PassMark/$ ($342 MSRP vs $85 MSRP).
❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 970 better than Core i5-4288U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon X4 970 is ahead with a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4288U pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-4288U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 970 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 970 comes in $257 cheaper on MSRP at $85 MSRP versus $342 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-4288U is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 300.1% better value on MSRP (31.1 vs 7.8 PassMark/$), 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 970 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 970 vs Core i5-4288U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 970

The Athlon X4 970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 2,644 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-4288U

The Core i5-4288U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,659 points. Launch price was $342.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 970 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4288U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4288U — a 25.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 970 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-4288U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 970 scores 2,644 against the Core i5-4288U's 2,659 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-4288U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X4 970 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4288U.

Feature	Athlon X4 970	Core i5-4288U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	4 GHz+29%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+46%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	28 nm	22 nm-21%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,644	2,659
Geekbench 6 Single	—	880
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,800

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4288U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 970 versus DDR3L 1600 MHz on the Core i5-4288U — the Athlon X4 970 supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 970 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon X4 970) vs 12 (Core i5-4288U) — the Core i5-4288U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon X4 970) and Intel HM86,Intel HM87,Intel QM87 (Core i5-4288U).

Feature	Athlon X4 970	Core i5-4288U
Socket	AM4	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+50%	DDR3L 1600 MHz
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+300%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	12+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 970) / true (Core i5-4288U). The Core i5-4288U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Athlon X4 970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4288U targets Mobile.

Feature	Athlon X4 970	Core i5-4288U
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Iris Graphics 5100
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true
Target Use	—	Mobile

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X4 970 was priced at $85, while the Core i5-4288U came in at $342. On launch pricing ($85 vs $342), Athlon X4 970 was $257 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 970 delivers 31.1 pts/$ vs 7.8 pts/$ for the Core i5-4288U — making the Athlon X4 970 the 120% better value option.

Feature	Athlon X4 970	Core i5-4288U
MSRP	$85-75%	$342
Performance per Dollar	31.1+299%	7.8
Release Date	2017	2013

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