Core i5-450M vs A4-4020
Core i5-450M
A4-4020
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 i5-450M is positioned at rank 10 and the A4-4020 is on rank 768, so the Core i5-450M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-450M
Performance Per Dollar A4-4020
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-450M | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-450M | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($31) | ✅ 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 i5-450M and A4-4020
Core i5-450M
The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.
A4-4020
The A4-4020 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,269 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i5-450M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-4020's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M versus 3.4 GHz on the A4-4020 — a 24.4% clock advantage for the A4-4020 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-450M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-4020 uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-450M scores 1,264 against the A4-4020's 1,269 — a 0.4% lead for the A4-4020.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.4 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,264 | 1,269 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 341 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-450M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-4020 uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Core i5-450M versus DDR3-1333 on the A4-4020 — the Core i5-450M supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A4-4020 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M) and A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A4-4020).
| Feature | Core i5-450M | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+35433% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 16 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i5-450M) vs AMD-V (A4-4020). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i5-450M) and Radeon HD 7480D (A4-4020) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4020 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620; A4-4020 rivals Pentium G3220.
| Feature | Core i5-450M | A4-4020 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | Radeon HD 7480D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
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