CPU
GPU
Phenom X4 9850B
Core i3-4120U
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 X4 9850B is positioned at rank 331 and the Core i3-4120U is on rank 129, so the Core i3-4120U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9850B
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4120U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X4 9850B | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X4 9850B | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom X4 9850B and Core i3-4120U
Phenom X4 9850B
The Phenom X4 9850B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,946 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-4120U
The Core i3-4120U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,948 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Phenom X4 9850B packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4120U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9850B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Phenom X4 9850B versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-4120U — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Phenom X4 9850B. The Phenom X4 9850B uses the Agena (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-4120U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X4 9850B scores 1,946 against the Core i3-4120U's 1,948 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-4120U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9850B vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4120U.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9850B | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Agena (2007−2008) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,946 | 1,948 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 462 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,071 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X4 9850B uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4120U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9850B | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom X4 9850B) / Yes (Core i3-4120U). The Core i3-4120U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4400), while the Phenom X4 9850B requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9850B | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4400 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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