Core i3-4170 vs Athlon II X4 651
Core i3-4170
Athlon II X4 651
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 i3-4170 is positioned at rank 585 and the Athlon II X4 651 is on rank 505, so the Athlon II X4 651 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 651
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($92) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+133%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($92) |
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 i3-4170 and Athlon II X4 651
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Athlon II X4 651
The Athlon II X4 651 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,584 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4170 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 651 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 651 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 651 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X4 651 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4170 scores 3,626 against the Athlon II X4 651's 3,584 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i3-4170. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 651.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+23% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+23% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 3,626+1% | 3,584 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,140 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,897 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4170 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 651 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-4170 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1150 (Core i3-4170) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 651).
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170) / not specified (Athlon II X4 651). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon II X4 651 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-4170 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 651 debuted at $92. At current prices ($40 vs $92), the Core i3-4170 is $52 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4170 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 39.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 651 — making the Core i3-4170 the 79.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Athlon II X4 651 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $92-21% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-57% | $92 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.7+133% | 39.0 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2011 |
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