AMD Athlon X4 840 vs Intel Core i3-4130T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4130T and AMD Athlon X4 840 are two very different approaches to budget desktop computing from the same era. The Intel chip is a low-power dual-core with Hyper-Threading, while the AMD is a higher-TDP quad-core with a boost clock. Benchmark data shows a clear pattern: the AMD Athlon X4 840 wins every single multi-core and single-core workload in the head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel i3-4130T holds its own in overall average scores due to its strong showing in Geekbench tests. This analysis breaks down the numbers to help you decide which legacy platform makes sense for your build.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score, the Intel Core i3-4130T or the AMD Athlon X4 840?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T has an average benchmark score of 984, which is slightly higher than the AMD Athlon X4 840’s 975. However, both chips are nearly identical in overall performance, with the Intel part holding a 0.9% edge in this aggregate metric.

Q: In the head-to-head Cinebench tests, how many wins does each CPU have?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 840 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i3-4130T records zero wins, with the AMD chip leading by margins between 13.9% and 14.3% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference between the two processors?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Athlon X4 840 scores 400 points against the Intel Core i3-4130T’s 344 points. This represents a 14% advantage for the AMD chip. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 single-core, where AMD leads 168 to 144, a 14.3% gap.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both the Intel Core i3-4130T and the AMD Athlon X4 840 list `eccMemory` as false in their specifications.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Intel Core i3-4130T scores higher than the AMD Athlon X4 840?

A: Yes, the Intel chip has two Geekbench scores listed that are not part of the head-to-head comparison. It scores 1787 in Geekbench multi-core and 903 in single-core, while the AMD chip has no Geekbench scores listed in the data. These scores contribute to Intel’s higher average benchmark score.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T has a TDP of 35 watts, which is significantly lower than the AMD Athlon X4 840’s 65 watts. This makes the Intel chip a much more power-efficient option for compact or low-noise builds.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: if you need raw multi-threaded performance, the AMD Athlon X4 840 is the pick. It wins every Cinebench multi-core test by roughly 14%, and it also takes single-core honors by the same margin. The AMD chip’s four physical cores at a 3.10 GHz base clock (with a 3.80 GHz boost) simply outmuscle the Intel’s two cores with Hyper-Threading in these workloads.

However, the Intel Core i3-4130T is not without its merits. Its 35-watt TDP is nearly half the AMD’s 65-watt figure, making it the obvious choice for power-sensitive or passively-cooled systems. The Intel chip also includes integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics, which the AMD Athlon X4 840 lacks entirely. And while the AMD wins the Cinebench tests, the Intel’s average benchmark score of 984 is actually higher than the AMD’s 975, thanks to Geekbench results that are not directly comparable.

For a home server, HTPC, or any build where low power draw and integrated graphics matter more than peak compute, the Intel i3-4130T is the rational choice. For a budget desktop where you plan to pair the CPU with a discrete GPU and want the best Cinebench numbers, the AMD Athlon X4 840 delivers more performance per dollar spent on the processor itself.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five head-to-head tests paint a consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Athlon X4 840 scores 285 against the Intel’s 245, a 14% lead. The margin is nearly identical in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD posts 1189 versus Intel’s 1024, a 13.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core continues the trend with AMD at 2833 and Intel at 2440, again a 13.9% gap.

Single-core performance follows the same script. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD chip scores 168, beating Intel’s 144 by 14.3%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 400 versus Intel’s 344, a 14% win. These results indicate that the AMD Athlon X4 840’s higher base clock (3.10 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and boost clock (3.80 GHz) provide a decisive advantage in both lightly-threaded and fully-loaded scenarios.

The Intel Core i3-4130T does not win a single head-to-head test, yet its average benchmark score of 984 is higher than the AMD’s 975. This discrepancy comes from the Geekbench tests, where Intel scores 1787 multi-core and 903 single-core. Since the AMD has no Geekbench scores listed, the averages are not directly comparable across the full suite.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i3-4130T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel runs at a fixed 2.90 GHz with no boost clock, whereas the AMD starts at 3.10 GHz and boosts up to 3.80 GHz.

Power consumption is a major differentiator: Intel’s TDP is 35 watts, AMD’s is 65 watts. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses LGA 1150, AMD uses FM2+. The process nodes differ as well, with Intel on 22 nm and AMD on 28 nm. The Intel chip has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, while the AMD packs 2,411 million transistors into 245 mm².

Cache configurations are also distinct. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip has a combined 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while Intel does not provide a figure.

The most significant functional difference is integrated graphics: the Intel i3-4130T includes Intel HD 4400, while the AMD Athlon X4 840 has no integrated GPU. The AMD chip does have an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel is locked. The AMD is marked as end-of-life production status, while Intel’s status is not listed.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-4130T is built on the Haswell architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 22 nm process. It uses a dual-core design with Hyper-Threading, allowing 4 threads to execute on 2 physical cores. The L3 cache is 3 MB shared, which is typical for Intel’s mainstream desktop parts of that generation.

The AMD Athlon X4 840 uses the Steamroller architecture, part of the Kaveri family, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. It has 4 physical cores with no SMT, meaning 4 threads total. The cache is split as 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache present. The AMD chip has a higher transistor count (2,411 million vs 1,400 million) and a larger die (245 mm² vs 177 mm²), reflecting its more complex quad-core design.

The architectural choices explain the performance gap. AMD’s higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) and additional physical cores give it a clear edge in Cinebench’s rendering workloads. Intel’s smaller process node and lower TDP reflect a design focus on efficiency rather than raw throughput. The Intel chip’s integrated HD 4400 graphics also require die space, whereas the AMD chip dedicates that area to compute cores.

Both processors support PCIe Gen 3, but AMD specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel does not list a lane count. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel chip uses a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus, as does the AMD, but the AMD lists a peak bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Athlon X4 840 wins in multi-core rendering. Every Cinebench multi-core test (R15, R20, R23) shows a 13.9-14% lead over the Intel chip. If your workload is video encoding, 3D rendering, or any task that scales with core count, the AMD’s four physical cores deliver measurably better performance.

AMD Athlon X4 840 wins in single-core speed. The Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests show a 14-14.3% advantage for AMD. This matters for older games and lightly-threaded applications that rely on one or two cores. The AMD’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz is the key factor here.

Intel Core i3-4130T wins in power efficiency. With a 35-watt TDP, the Intel chip uses nearly half the power of the AMD’s 65-watt TDP. This makes it suitable for small form factor builds, always-on servers, or any system where heat and electricity costs are primary concerns.

Intel Core i3-4130T wins in integrated graphics. The Intel HD 4400 GPU means you can build a functional desktop without a discrete graphics card. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a separate GPU for any display output.

Intel Core i3-4130T wins in aggregate benchmark score. Despite losing all head-to-head tests, the Intel chip’s average benchmark score of 984 edges out the AMD’s 975. This is due to its Geekbench results, which are not part of the direct comparison but still contribute to the overall average. If your workload resembles Geekbench’s mixed integer/float tests, the Intel chip may be the better performer.