Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Phenom II X4 980 (AMD, 2010) and AMD FX-4100 (AMD, 2012) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: Phenom II X4 980 is about 7.1% faster
The sockets differ (AM3 / AM3+), so switching requires a motherboard replacement. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | Phenom II X4 980 | FX-4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 4,500 | 4,200 |
| Generation | Phenom II | FX |
| Socket | AM3 | AM3+ |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2012 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon RX 6400 | GeForce GTX 1050 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Phenom II X4 980 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | FX-4100 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Phenom II X4 980 is about 7.1% higher by score (Phenom II X4 980: 4500 points / FX-4100: 4200 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
Phenom II X4 980 is Phenom II, while FX-4100 is FX.The sockets differ (AM3 / AM3+), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon RX 6400 pairs well with Phenom II X4 980 and GeForce GTX 1050 pairs well with FX-4100. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
