Pentium Gold 4417U vs Phenom II X6 1045T

Intel

Pentium Gold 4417U

2 Cores4 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.3 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Phenom II X6 1045T

6 Cores6 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2010

Popular choices:

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Pentium Gold 4417U

2019

Why buy it

  • Draws 1W instead of 95W, a 94W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (3,240 vs 3,244).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 6 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $161 MSRP, while Phenom II X6 1045T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X6 1045T

2010

Why buy it

  • +200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 9400% higher power demand at 95W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X6 1045T better than Pentium Gold 4417U?
Yes. Phenom II X6 1045T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Phenom II X6 1045T is the better fit because it leads the single-thread side of the matchup with 39.1% higher max boost clock.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X6 1045T is the better fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Phenom II X6 1045T is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Phenom II X6 1045T is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $161 MSRP, and it gives you 0.1% higher PassMark. Pentium Gold 4417U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium Gold 4417U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetPentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
1080p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra80 FPS81 FPS
1440p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra65 FPS70 FPS
4K
low67 FPS61 FPS
medium56 FPS55 FPS
high43 FPS43 FPS
ultra33 FPS34 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetPentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
1080p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra67 FPS81 FPS
1440p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high75 FPS81 FPS
ultra58 FPS81 FPS
4K
low69 FPS81 FPS
medium60 FPS81 FPS
high42 FPS81 FPS
ultra29 FPS72 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetPentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
1080p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS
1440p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS
4K
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetPentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
1080p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS
1440p
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS
4K
low81 FPS81 FPS
medium81 FPS81 FPS
high81 FPS81 FPS
ultra81 FPS81 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Pentium Gold 4417U and Phenom II X6 1045T

Intel

Pentium Gold 4417U

The Pentium Gold 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,240 points. Launch price was $161.

AMD

Phenom II X6 1045T

The Phenom II X6 1045T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,244 points. Launch price was $175.

Processing Power

The Pentium Gold 4417U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X6 1045T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Phenom II X6 1045T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 4417U versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1045T — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X6 1045T (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Pentium Gold 4417U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1045T uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 4417U scores 3,240 against the Phenom II X6 1045T's 3,244 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X6 1045T. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Pentium Gold 4417U vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1045T.

FeaturePentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
6 / 6+200%
Boost Clock
2.3 GHz
3.2 GHz+39%
Base Clock
2.3 GHz
2.7 GHz+17%
L3 Cache
2 MB
6 MB (total)+200%
L2 Cache
1 MB+100%
512 kB (per core)
Process
14 nm-69%
45 nm
Architecture
Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)
Thuban (2010)
PassMark
3,240
3,244
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Memory & Platform

The Pentium Gold 4417U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X6 1045T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeaturePentium Gold 4417UPhenom II X6 1045T
Socket
BGA1356
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0