Core i5-3437U vs Athlon II X4 630
Core i5-3437U
Athlon II X4 630
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 i5-3437U is positioned at rank 164 and the Athlon II X4 630 is on rank 868, so the Core i5-3437U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3437U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 630
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-3437U and Athlon II X4 630
Core i5-3437U
The Core i5-3437U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,166 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 630
The Athlon II X4 630 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,175 points. Launch price was $63.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3437U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 630 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 630 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 630 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-3437U (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-3437U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X4 630 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3437U scores 2,166 against the Athlon II X4 630's 2,175 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 630. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3437U vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 630.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+4% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.8 GHz+47% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,166 | 2,175 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 440 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,080 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3437U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 630 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i5-3437U 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: QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3437U) and Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 630).
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon II X4 630 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3437U) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 630). The Core i5-3437U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 630 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3437U targets Business Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i5-3437U rivals AMD A8-4555M.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | Athlon II X4 630 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Business Ultrabook | — |
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