Core i5-3437U vs Phenom II X4 B93
Core i5-3437U
Phenom II X4 B93
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 Phenom II X4 B93 is on rank 297, 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 Phenom II X4 B93
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | Phenom II X4 B93 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | Phenom II X4 B93 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Phenom II X4 B93
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.
Phenom II X4 B93
The Phenom II X4 B93 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). 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: 2,159 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3437U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 B93 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 B93 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 B93 — 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 Phenom II X4 B93 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3437U scores 2,166 against the Phenom II X4 B93's 2,159 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-3437U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3437U vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 B93.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | Phenom II X4 B93 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,166 | 2,159 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 440 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,080 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3437U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X4 B93 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | Phenom II X4 B93 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | 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, VT-d (Core i5-3437U) / not specified (Phenom II X4 B93). The Core i5-3437U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Phenom II X4 B93 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 | Phenom II X4 B93 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Business Ultrabook | — |
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