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AMD Athlon X4 845

AMD Athlon X4 845: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Updated: April 2025

Key Specifications: Carrizo Architecture and Modest Performance

The AMD Athlon X4 845 processor, released in 2016, is still found in budget builds due to its affordability. Its Carrizo architecture was originally designed for mobile devices but has been adapted for desktop PCs.

Manufacturing Process and Cores

- 28 nm Technology: An outdated process technology, which explains the high power consumption compared to modern 7 nm chips.

- 4 Cores / 4 Threads: No support for simultaneous multithreading (SMT), limiting performance in multitasking scenarios.

- Base Clock: 3.5 GHz, with Turbo Core up to 3.8 GHz.

Performance

- Geekbench 6: 655 (Single-Core), 1656 (Multi-Core). In comparison, the Ryzen 3 3200G scores around ~1100/3500 points.

- TDP 65 W: Modest thermal output, but lower efficiency compared to modern APUs.

Key Features

- Integrated graphics Radeon R5 (not in all models!) — suitable only for display output but not for gaming.

- Support for AVX, AES instructions, but the lack of AVX2 limits compatibility with new software.

Compatible Motherboards: FM2+ and the Quest for Rare Chipsets

The processor uses the FM2+ socket, which presents challenges in 2025:

Chipsets

- A68H, A78, A88X: Only these chipsets support the X4 845. New boards are rarely produced, and leftovers are priced at $50–70.

- Features: No USB 3.1 Gen2, M.2 NVMe (only SATA via adapters), limited overclocking.

Selection Tips

- Look for boards with USB 3.0 and SATA III (for example, ASUS A68HM-K).

- Check the BIOS updates: Older versions may not recognize the processor.

Memory: Only DDR3 — An Outdated Standard

The Athlon X4 845 supports DDR3-2133 MHz in dual-channel mode.

- Limitations: Not compatible with DDR4/DDR5, which lowers performance in modern applications.

- Recommendations: 8–16 GB (2×4 GB or 2×8 GB) for a balance between price and speed.

For example: Kingston HyperX Fury 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR3-1866 — $45.

Power Supply: 400 W is Plenty

With a TDP of 65 W, the processor does not require a powerful PSU:

- Without a discrete graphics card: A 300 W supply is sufficient (e.g., EVGA 400 N1 — $35).

- With a graphics card: For a GTX 1650 (TDP 75 W), a 450 W supply will suffice (Corsair CX450 — $55).

Important: Choose a PSU with an 80 Plus Bronze certification for stability.

Pros and Cons: Who is the Athlon X4 845 Relevant For?

Pros

- Price: $50–60 (new) — cheaper than many competitors.

- Energy Efficiency: Suitable for low-power builds.

- Sufficient for Basic Tasks: Office work, browsing, HD video.

Cons

- Outdated Platform: No upgrade path to AM4/AM5.

- Weak Multithreading: Lags behind even Pentium Gold.

- No PCIe 4.0/3.0: Only PCIe 2.0 for graphics cards.

Usage Scenarios: When to Opt for the Athlon X4 845?

1. Office PC: Document work, Zoom, email.

2. Home Media Center: Streaming video (1080p), music.

3. Light Gaming: Minecraft, Dota 2 on low settings (with a GPU like the GT 1030).

Real Experience: A Reddit user built a PC with the X4 845 + GTX 1050 Ti for playing CS2 — achieving 60–80 FPS at medium settings.

Comparison with Competitors: Budget Segment

- Intel Pentium Gold G6405 ($75): 2 cores/4 threads, Geekbench 6 ~700/1800. Better for single-threaded tasks, but more expensive.

- AMD Ryzen 3 1200 ($60 on the secondary market): 4 cores/4 threads, AM4 platform with upgrade capability to Ryzen 5000.

- Athlon X4 845: Only wins in price but lags in future-proofing.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. SSD is a Must: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will speed up the system.

2. Graphics Card: Choose models without additional power (up to 75 W).

3. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but replace the thermal paste (Arctic MX-4 — $6).

4. Check BIOS: Update to the latest version for stability.

Final Conclusion: Who is the Athlon X4 845 Suitable For?

This processor is a choice for:

- Budget Users: Building a PC for under $200.

- Temporary Solutions: For example, until upgrading to a modern Ryzen.

- Undemanding Tasks: Surfing, watching movies, playing older games.

Why You Shouldn't Buy It? If you plan to upgrade or work with graphics — better to choose Ryzen 3 5300G ($120) or Intel i3-12100F ($110).

Final Thoughts: The Athlon X4 845 in 2025 is a niche option for those prioritizing minimal cost over performance.

Basic

Label Name

AMD

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

February 2016

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

Athlon X4 845

Code Name

Carrizo

Generation

Athlon (Carrizo)

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.5 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

up to 3.8 GHz

L1 Cache

320 KB

L2 Cache

2 MB

Multiplier

35.0x

Bus Frequency

100 MHz

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

AMD Socket FM2+

Multiplier Unlocked

Yes

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

28 nm

TDP

65 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)

Transistors

3,100 million

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Dual-channel

ECC Memory

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

N/A

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

655

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1656

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

550

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1550

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1682

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3809

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon D-1587

761 +16.2%

Core i3-5015U

702 +7.2%

Athlon X4 845

655

Xeon E5-4617

623 -4.9%

Core i5-3350P

579 -11.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-4130

1976 +19.3%

Core i7-3610QM

1822 +10%

Athlon X4 845

1656

Core i7-4578U

1510 -8.8%

Core m5-6Y54

1351 -18.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2640 v3

585 +6.4%

Core i3-2100

564 +2.5%

Athlon X4 845

550

A8-6500

529 -3.8%

Core i3-6100H

514 -6.5%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i3-6098P

1762 +13.7%

Core i5-6440EQ

1640 +5.8%

Athlon X4 845

1550

Core i5-5257U

1467 -5.4%

A10 PRO-7850B

1394 -10.1%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon D-2123IT

1734 +3.1%

Celeron G3930TE

1706 +1.4%

Athlon X4 845

1682

Xeon E5-2698B v3

1638 -2.6%

Xeon D-1540

1612 -4.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium Gold G6405

4252 +11.6%

Core i3-6098P

4030 +5.8%

Athlon X4 845

3809

Core i3-4360

3631 -4.7%

Xeon X5698

3447 -9.5%