AMD FX-4130 Pro Reviews

Our thoughts on the FX-4130 are decidedly mixed. In testing, it proved to be a very capable performer for most mainstream tasks, and its roughly $100 price point (when we wrote this, it was selling online for between $99 and $110) is certainly appealing. It also beat the slightly pricier Intel Core i3-2100 on most of our tests, especially when overclocked. But its older architecture means it gobbles up a bit more power compared to not just similarly priced Intel chips, but also some other FX chips that cost a bit more or less. If you have an AM3+ motherboard (or a compatible AM3 board that you know can handle AM3+ chips), and you’re looking for an affordable, capable processor for around $100 for gaming and everyday computing, the FX-4130’s a good choice. But if you’re paying your own electricity bill, you might want to save up a bit and opt instead for the FX-4300 (currently around $120). Because it’s rated to use 95 watts under load, rather than the FX-4130’s 125, you’ll save more money in the long run by paying a bit more now, especially if you’re the type who leaves a computer running for long periods of time while rendering media or simply without shutting down.