Core i3-4030Y vs Phenom II X4 N970

Core i3-4030Y vs Phenom II X4 N970 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-4030Y

2 / 4

1,654

+0.4%

1,647

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-4030Y vs Phenom II X4 N970 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.

Core i3-4030Y vs Phenom II X4 N970: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-4030Y

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌25500% higher power demand at 512W vs 2W.

Phenom II X4 N970

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 512W, a 510W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,647 vs 1,654).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-4030Y better than Phenom II X4 N970?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X4 N970 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030Y pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-4030Y still makes the most sense overall. Core i3-4030Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4030Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-4030Y vs Phenom II X4 N970 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-4030Y

The Core i3-4030Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,654 points. Launch price was $281.

Phenom II X4 N970

The Phenom II X4 N970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-4030Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 N970 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Core i3-4030Y versus 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N970 — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 N970. The Core i3-4030Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X4 N970 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4030Y scores 1,654 against the Phenom II X4 N970's 1,647 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-4030Y.

Feature	Core i3-4030Y	Phenom II X4 N970
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	2.2 GHz+38%
Base Clock	1.6 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	2 MB+300%
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,654	1,647

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4030Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 N970 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.