Core i3-4160 vs Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Core i3-4160
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
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 i3-4160 is positioned at rank 596 and the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition is on rank 146, so the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4160
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4160 | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4160 | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) | ✅ 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 i3-4160 and Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
Core i3-4160
The Core i3-4160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,506 points. Launch price was $133.
Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition
The Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition 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. Max frequency: 2 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: 3,489 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4160 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-4160 versus 2 GHz on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition — a 57.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-4160. The Core i3-4160 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4160 scores 3,506 against the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition's 3,489 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-4160. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4160 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition.
| Feature | Core i3-4160 | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+80% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,506 | 3,489 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4160 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4160 | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4160) / not specified (Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition). The Core i3-4160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4160 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-4160 rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | Core i3-4160 | Phenom II 42 TWKR Black Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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