FX-4170 vs Core i7-5557U
FX-4170
Core i7-5557U
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 FX-4170 is positioned at rank 796 and the Core i7-5557U is on rank 563, so the Core i7-5557U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-4170
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5557U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-4170 | Core i7-5557U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($23) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-4170 | Core i7-5557U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($23) | ✅ 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 FX-4170 and Core i7-5557U
FX-4170
The FX-4170 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 February 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,121 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i7-5557U
The Core i7-5557U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,153 points. Launch price was $426.
Processing Power
The FX-4170 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-5557U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the FX-4170 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the FX-4170 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-5557U — a 23.4% clock advantage for the FX-4170 (base: 4.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The FX-4170 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-5557U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the FX-4170 scores 3,121 against the Core i7-5557U's 3,153 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-5557U. L3 cache: 8192 kB on the FX-4170 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5557U.
| Feature | FX-4170 | Core i7-5557U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+26% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4.2 GHz+35% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+1500% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Zambezi (2011−2012) | Broadwell-U (2015) |
| PassMark | 3,121 | 3,153+1% |
Memory & Platform
The FX-4170 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-5557U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-4170 | Core i7-5557U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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