Core i3-4100M vs Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Core i3-4100M
Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
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 i3-4100M is positioned at rank 114 and the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) is on rank 240, so the Core i3-4100M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4100M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4100M | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($99) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4100M | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($99) | ✅ 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 Core i3-4100M and Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
Core i3-4100M
The Core i3-4100M 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,531 points. Launch price was $225.
Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)
The Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,544 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4100M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-4100M versus 3.4 GHz on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) — a 30.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-4100M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4100M scores 2,531 against the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)'s 2,544 — a 0.5% lead for the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W). L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-4100M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W).
| Feature | Core i3-4100M | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.4 GHz+36% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.4 GHz+36% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,531 | 2,544 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4100M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4100M | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4100M) / not specified (Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W)). The Core i3-4100M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4100M targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-4100M | Phenom II X4 965 BE (125W) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4600 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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