AMD Athlon X4 840 vs Intel Core i3-4130 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents an unusual scenario: the Intel Core i3-4130 and AMD Athlon X4 840 produce identical scores across every single test in the database. In Cinebench R15 multicore, both processors score 285 points. The R20 multicore test shows both at 1189, and the single-core variant of R20 also matches at 168. Moving to R23, the multicore score is 2833 for both, and the single-core result is 400 for each. The delta percentage is 0 across all five head-to-head comparisons, meaning there is no measurable performance gap in these workloads.

This is a statistical tie, not a narrow margin. The average benchmark score for both CPUs is exactly 975, and their percentile ranking against all CPUs is identical at 26. The Intel Core i3-4130 is credited with 5 wins in the head-to-head table, but that is purely a nominal designation; the actual data shows zero percentage difference in every case. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has 0 wins, but it does not lose a single test either. In practical terms, a user moving from one to the other would see no change in Cinebench performance.

The nearest rival list reinforces this parity. Both chips sit alongside the Intel Core i3-4150T and AMD A10-7870K, each with an average score of 975 and a delta of 0. The only nearby competitor with any difference is the Intel Core i5-5257U, which scores 976 and is 0.1% behind. That 0.1% gap is negligible and within run-to-run variance, but it does mean the i3-4130 and Athlon X4 840 are effectively at the top of this specific peer group.

The Verdict

From the data alone, there is no winner. The Intel Core i3-4130 and AMD Athlon X4 840 are performance twins in the recorded Cinebench suite. Every multicore and single-core test returns the same number, and the average benchmark score confirms the tie. A builder choosing between these two should base the decision on factors other than raw compute throughput, because the throughput is identical in these measurements.

The Intel part offers hyper-threading, giving it 4 threads from 2 physical cores. The AMD part has 4 physical cores and no hyper-threading, also yielding 4 threads. In the workloads tested, that architectural difference produces no score difference. The i3-4130 has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 3.10 GHz, but the Athlon X4 840 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. These clock differences cancel out in the benchmark results.

The Athlon X4 840 is end-of-life in the database, while the i3-4130 is listed as active. That production status matters for long-term availability. The AMD chip also has an unlocked multiplier, which suggests overclocking potential, but the recorded benchmarks do not include overclocked results. The Intel chip lacks an unlocked multiplier. For a user who values a current production status and integrated graphics, the i3-4130 has the edge. For a user who wants four physical cores and an unlocked multiplier, the Athlon X4 840 is the only option with those features.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-4130 is built on the Haswell architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process at Intel. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 177 mm² die. The AMD Athlon X4 840 uses the Steamroller architecture, also known as Kaveri, on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. That chip has 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The larger transistor count and die size reflect the AMD design's different approach, but they do not translate into a benchmark advantage.

The i3-4130 features 2 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Its shared L3 cache is 3 MB. The Athlon X4 840 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, but no L3 cache at all. The cache distribution is fundamentally different: Intel relies on a smaller, shared L3 pool, while AMD spreads larger L1 and L2 caches across the four physical cores. These trade-offs produce identical Cinebench scores.

The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4400. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has no integrated graphics, which means it requires a discrete GPU for display output. This is a practical difference that does not affect Cinebench results but does affect system building. The memory bus is dual-channel DDR3 for both, though the AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s while the Intel part does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. Both support PCIe Gen 3, but the AMD listing specifies 16 lanes for CPU only.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge in several specification fields. The Intel Core i3-4130 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and no boost clock, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. TDP differs as well: the i3-4130 draws 54 watts, and the Athlon X4 840 draws 65 watts. The Intel chip uses the Intel Socket 1150, while the AMD chip uses the AMD Socket FM2+.

Core and thread counts are the same total (4 threads), but the composition differs: 2 cores with 4 threads on Intel versus 4 cores with 4 threads on AMD. The process node is 22 nm for Intel and 28 nm for AMD. Transistor count and die size are both larger on the AMD side. The Intel part has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD part has no L3 cache but 4 MB of L2 cache. The integrated graphics presence is exclusive to Intel. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD but locked on Intel. Production status is active for Intel and end-of-life for AMD. Release dates are roughly one year apart: August 2013 for Intel and August 2014 for AMD. The part numbers also differ, with Intel using SR1NP and AMD using AD840XYBJABOXAD840XYBI44JA.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: Neither. The Cinebench R15 multicore score is 285 for both, the R20 multicore score is 1189 for both, and the R23 multicore score is 2833 for both. There is zero percentage difference in every test.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4130 have an advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. The single-core scores are identical across the board: 168 in R20 and 400 in R23 for both processors. The delta percentage is 0 in each case.

Q: Can the AMD Athlon X4 840 be overclocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked on the Athlon X4 840. The Intel Core i3-4130 has a locked multiplier. However, the database does not include any overclocked benchmark results, so the performance impact is not measured here.

Q: Does the Intel chip have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i3-4130 includes Intel HD 4400 graphics. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for that platform.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance class as other CPUs?

A: Yes. Both have an average benchmark score of 975 and a percentile ranking of 26 against all CPUs. They are tied with the Intel Core i3-4150T and AMD A10-7870K at the same score, and they sit 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-5257U.

Q: Which processor has a longer expected availability?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130 is listed as active production, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 is listed as end-of-life. This means the Intel chip is more likely to be found new in the channel.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4130 wins on platform features. It brings integrated graphics, which eliminates the need for a separate GPU in basic systems. It has a lower TDP of 54 watts versus 65 watts, which can simplify cooling and power supply requirements. The active production status means it is still available for new builds. The Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process is more efficient in terms of die size, using 177 mm² versus 245 mm². The 3 MB shared L3 cache provides a different caching strategy that may help in certain workloads, though the recorded Cinebench data shows no difference.

The AMD Athlon X4 840 wins on physical-core count and overclocking freedom. Four physical cores, versus two physical cores with hyper-threading on Intel, can matter in applications that scale with true core count, even if Cinebench does not show it here. The unlocked multiplier gives the user control over clock speed, a feature the Intel chip lacks entirely. The larger L2 cache of 4 MB, combined with the absence of L3 cache, is a different trade-off that may favor certain access patterns. The 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth figure is a listed advantage for AMD, though Intel does not have a comparable number in the database. The boost clock of 3.80 GHz provides a higher ceiling than the Intel's fixed 3.40 GHz, assuming the workload engages the boost state.

For a builder who wants a drop-in CPU with graphics output and lower power draw, the i3-4130 is the pragmatic pick. For a builder who wants four discrete cores and the ability to push clocks manually, the Athlon X4 840 is the only one with that feature set. The benchmark data does not separate them, so the choice falls to these non-performance attributes. Both processors sit at the 26th percentile against all CPUs, which places them in the entry-level desktop segment. The identical average score of 975 confirms that neither chip offers a compute advantage in the measured tests. The decision is about platform, not performance.