CPU
GPU
Core i3-8145U
Athlon X4 845
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 i3-8145U is positioned at rank 587 and the Athlon X4 845 is on rank 393, so the Athlon X4 845 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8145U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 845
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8145U | Athlon X4 845 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8145U | Athlon X4 845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 i3-8145U and Athlon X4 845
Core i3-8145U
The Core i3-8145U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,781 points. Launch price was $281.
Athlon X4 845
The Athlon X4 845 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,768 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8145U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 845 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 845 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8145U versus 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 845 — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-8145U (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon X4 845 uses Carrizo (2015−2018) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8145U scores 3,781 against the Athlon X4 845's 3,768 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-8145U.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | Athlon X4 845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+3% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.5 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) | Carrizo (2015−2018) |
| PassMark | 3,781 | 3,768 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8145U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 845 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8145U versus DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 845 — the Core i3-8145U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-8145U) vs 8 (Athlon X4 845) — the Core i3-8145U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | Athlon X4 845 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8145U) / not specified (Athlon X4 845). The Core i3-8145U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Athlon X4 845 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8145U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | Athlon X4 845 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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