CPU
GPU
Ryzen 7 5800X
Athlon II X4 638
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 5800X
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1807%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($180) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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.
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Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 5800X and Athlon II X4 638
Ryzen 7 5800X
The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 7 5800X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Ryzen 7 5800X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 54.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Ryzen 7 5800X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 5800X scores 27,712 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 169.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+74% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+41% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 27,712+1126% | 2,260 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 5800X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 5800X versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 — the Ryzen 7 5800X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 5800X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 5800X) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 638) — the Ryzen 7 5800X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 5800X) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638).
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X) / not specified (Athlon II X4 638). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 7 5800X launched at $449 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 638 debuted at $300. At current prices ($180 vs $280), the Ryzen 7 5800X is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 5800X delivers 154.0 pts/$ vs 8.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 638 — making the Ryzen 7 5800X the 180.1% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $449 | $300-33% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180-36% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 154.0+1801% | 8.1 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2012 |
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