Athlon X4 970 vs Core i7-3687U
Athlon X4 970
Core i7-3687U
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 970 is positioned at rank 582 and the Core i7-3687U is on rank 654, so the Athlon X4 970 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 970
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3687U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 970 | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 970 | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ 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 970 and Core i7-3687U
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 i7-3687U
The Core i7-3687U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,621 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 970 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3687U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3687U — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Athlon X4 970 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-3687U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 970 scores 2,644 against the Core i7-3687U's 2,621 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon X4 970. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon X4 970 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3687U.
| Feature | Athlon X4 970 | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+21% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+81% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 22 nm-21% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,644 | 2,621 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 640 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,240 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 970 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3687U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 970 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i7-3687U — the Athlon X4 970 supports 28.6% 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 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon X4 970) vs 16 (Core i7-3687U) — the Core i7-3687U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon X4 970) and QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3687U).
| Feature | Athlon X4 970 | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 970) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-3687U). The Core i7-3687U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon X4 970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3687U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core i7-3687U rivals Ryzen 7 3700U.
| Feature | Athlon X4 970 | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Enthusiast |
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