🚀 CPU Launch

AMD Athlon X4 870K vs AMD A4-4020 APU

Table of Contents



Overview:

Comparison between AMD Athlon X4 870K and AMD A4-4020 APU

Both CPUs are manufactured by AMD. AMD Athlon X4 870K has a higher base speed of 3.9 GHz compared to AMD A4-4020 APU's 3.2 GHz. AMD Athlon X4 870K has a higher turbo speed of 4.1 GHz compared to AMD A4-4020 APU's 3.4 GHz. AMD Athlon X4 870K has more cores (4) compared to AMD A4-4020 APU's 2 cores. Both CPUs support the same number of threads ().

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. AMD Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket, while AMD A4-4020 APU uses the FM2 socket. AMD Athlon X4 870K was launched in Q1 2016, while AMD A4-4020 APU was launched in Q3 2014. Both CPUs have the same L3 cache size of MB.

Specification Summary

The AMD Athlon X4 870K and AMD A4-4020 APU are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

  • Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by AMD.
  • Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has a base speed of 3.9 GHz, while the AMD A4-4020 APU runs at 3.2 GHz.
  • Turbo Boost: The AMD Athlon X4 870K supports a turbo speed of 4.1 GHz, compared to 3.4 GHz for the AMD A4-4020 APU.
  • Cores: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has 4 cores, while the AMD A4-4020 APU has 2 cores.
  • Threads: The AMD Athlon X4 870K supports threads, compared to threads for the AMD A4-4020 APU.
  • Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
  • Socket: The AMD Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+, while the AMD A4-4020 APU uses the FM2.
  • Launch Date: The AMD Athlon X4 870K was launched on Q1 2016, while the AMD A4-4020 APU was released on Q3 2014.
  • L3 Cache: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has MB of L3 cache, compared to MB for the AMD A4-4020 APU.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs AMD Athlon X4 870K AMD A4-4020 APU
AMD AMD
Manufacturer AMD AMD
Speed 3.9 GHz 3.2 GHz
Turbo 4.1 GHz 3.4 GHz
Cores 4 2
Threads
Class Desktop Desktop
Socket FM2+ FM2
Launched Q1 2016 Q3 2014
L3 Cache MB MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:


CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

AMD Athlon X4 870K:



25%
AMD A4-4020 APU:
20%
* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:


CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

AMD Athlon X4 870K



4%
AMD A4-4020 APU:
1%
* More is Better

Power Efficiency:


Power Consumption of CPU under full load

AMD Athlon X4 870K: 95 watts



23.75%
AMD A4-4020 APU: 65 watts
16.25%
* Lower is Better

Launched Date:


Time when the CPU was launched


AMD Athlon X4 870K : Q1 2016 ✅

AMD A4-4020 APU : Q3 2014 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

AMD Athlon X4 870K



AMD A4-4020 APU


Pro's and Con's

AMD Athlon X4 870K – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Higher Base Clock Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has a higher base clock speed of 3.9 GHz compared to the AMD A4-4020 APU's 3.2 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
  • Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The AMD Athlon X4 870K supports a higher turbo boost speed of 4.1 GHz compared to the AMD A4-4020 APU's 3.4 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
  • Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 1558, the AMD Athlon X4 870K outperforms the AMD A4-4020 APU (score: 1220). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
  • Higher CPU Mark Score: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has a higher CPU Mark score of 99.70 compared to the AMD A4-4020 APU's 12.04. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

  • Higher Power Consumption: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has a higher TDP of 95W compared to the AMD A4-4020 APU's 65W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.

AMD A4-4020 APU – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Newer Release: The AMD A4-4020 APU was launched more recently (Q3 2014) compared to the AMD Athlon X4 870K (Q1 2016). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.

Cons:

  • Fewer Cores: The AMD A4-4020 APU has 2 cores, which is fewer than the AMD Athlon X4 870K's 4 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
  • Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD A4-4020 APU scores 1268, which is lower than the AMD Athlon X4 870K's score of 3410. This makes the AMD Athlon X4 870K a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.


Productivity


AMD Athlon X4 870K
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

AMD A4-4020 APU
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.


Gaming

AMD Athlon X4 870K
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.

AMD A4-4020 APU
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.



Verdict

AMD Athlon X4 870K

The AMD Athlon X4 870K is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.

AMD A4-4020 APU

The AMD A4-4020 APU is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.