
Phenom II X4 N970 vs Core M-5Y10

Phenom II X4 N970

Core M-5Y10
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 Phenom II X4 N970 is positioned at rank 388 and the Core M-5Y10 is on rank 1190, so the Phenom II X4 N970 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 N970
Performance Per Dollar Core M-5Y10
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core M-5Y10 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-Y (2014) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core M-5Y10 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 Phenom II X4 N970 and Core M-5Y10

Phenom II X4 N970
The Phenom II X4 N970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,647 points. Launch price was $149.

Core M-5Y10
The Core M-5Y10 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-Y (2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 0.8 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1234. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,644 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 N970 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core M-5Y10 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 N970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 N970 versus 2 GHz on the Core M-5Y10 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 N970. The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core M-5Y10 uses Broadwell-Y (2014) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 N970 scores 1,647 against the Core M-5Y10's 1,644 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom II X4 N970.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core M-5Y10 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 0.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Broadwell-Y (2014) |
| PassMark | 1,647 | 1,644 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 N970 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core M-5Y10 uses FCBGA1234 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 N970 | Core M-5Y10 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | FCBGA1234 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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