Core i3-4160 vs Phenom II X6 1075T

CPU

GPU

Core i3-4160

2 Cores4 Thrd54 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2014

Popular choices:

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Phenom II X6 1075T

6 Cores6 Thrd125 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2010

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-4160

2 / 4

3,506

+0.2%

Core i5-3439Y

Core i7-3537U

Celeron Dual-Core T1400

3,500

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-4160

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $128 less on MSRP ($117 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Delivers 109.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.0 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($117 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 125W, a 71W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Phenom II X6 1075T needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Phenom II X6 1075T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).

Phenom II X6 1075T

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,500 vs 3,506).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 30.0 PassMark/$ ($245 MSRP vs $117 MSRP).
❌131.5% higher power demand at 125W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4160 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-4160

2014

Phenom II X6 1075T

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $128 less on MSRP ($117 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Delivers 109.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 30.0 vs 14.3 PassMark/$ ($117 MSRP vs $245 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 125W, a 71W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Phenom II X6 1075T needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Phenom II X6 1075T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,500 vs 3,506).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.3 vs 30.0 PassMark/$ ($245 MSRP vs $117 MSRP).
❌131.5% higher power demand at 125W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4160 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-4160 better than Phenom II X6 1075T?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Phenom II X6 1075T is ahead with a 6.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4160 pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark. Phenom II X6 1075T also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4160 is the better fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-4160 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-4160 is $128 cheaper on MSRP at $117 MSRP versus $245 MSRP, and it gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Phenom II X6 1075T is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 109.8% better value on MSRP (30.0 vs 14.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4160 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Core i3-4160 Benchmark Check

Phenom II X6 1075T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	62 FPS
medium	56 FPS	56 FPS
high	44 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i3-4160 Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	81 FPS	88 FPS
high	74 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	88 FPS
medium	59 FPS	88 FPS
high	42 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i3-4160 Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i3-4160 Open Phenom II X6 1075T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
1080p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	88 FPS
medium	88 FPS	88 FPS
high	88 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i3-4160 Open Phenom II X6 1075T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-4160 and Phenom II X6 1075T

Core i3-4160

The Core i3-4160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,506 points. Launch price was $133.

Phenom II X6 1075T

The Phenom II X6 1075T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,500 points. Launch price was $260.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-4160 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X6 1075T offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Phenom II X6 1075T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-4160 versus 3.5 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1075T — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-4160 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-4160 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1075T uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4160 scores 3,506 against the Phenom II X6 1075T's 3,500 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-4160. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,100 vs 679, a 47.3% lead for the Core i3-4160 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4160 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X6 1075T.

Feature	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 6+200%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	6 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Thuban (2010)
PassMark	3,506	3,500
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	1,896
Geekbench 6 Single	1,100+62%	679
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,960

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4160 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X6 1075T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H81,B85,Q85,H87,Q87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i3-4160) and 880G,890GX,890FX,970,990FX (Phenom II X6 1075T).

Feature	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
Socket	LGA1150	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Phenom II X6 1075T has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4160) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X6 1075T). The Core i3-4160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Phenom II X6 1075T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4160 targets Budget Desktop, Phenom II X6 1075T targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i3-4160 rivals FX-6300; Phenom II X6 1075T rivals Core i5-750.

Feature	Core i3-4160	Phenom II X6 1075T
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	HD Graphics 4400	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget Desktop	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-4160 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Phenom II X6 1075T debuted at $245. On MSRP ($117 vs $245), the Core i3-4160 is $128 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4160 delivers 30.0 pts/$ vs 14.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X6 1075T — making the Core i3-4160 the 70.9% better value option.