Core i3-4010U vs Phenom X4 9550
Core i3-4010U
Phenom X4 9550
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 Core i3-4010U is positioned at rank 179 and the Phenom X4 9550 is on rank 382, so the Core i3-4010U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4010U
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4010U | Phenom X4 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4010U | Phenom X4 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-4010U and Phenom X4 9550
Core i3-4010U
The Core i3-4010U 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 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,660 points. Launch price was $281.
Phenom X4 9550
The Phenom X4 9550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,667 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4010U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom X4 9550 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9550 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Core i3-4010U versus 2.2 GHz on the Phenom X4 9550 — a 25.6% clock advantage for the Phenom X4 9550. The Core i3-4010U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom X4 9550 uses Agena (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4010U scores 1,660 against the Phenom X4 9550's 1,667 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom X4 9550. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4010U vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9550.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Phenom X4 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.2 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-66% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Agena (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,660 | 1,667 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4010U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom X4 9550 uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Phenom X4 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4010U) / not specified (Phenom X4 9550). The Core i3-4010U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Phenom X4 9550 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4010U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-4010U | Phenom X4 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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