CPU
GPU
A12-9800E
Athlon X4 860K
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A12-9800E is positioned at rank 1029 and the Athlon X4 860K is on rank 480, so the Athlon X4 860K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 860K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+652%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A12-9800E and Athlon X4 860K
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Athlon X4 860K
The Athlon X4 860K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the A12-9800E and Athlon X4 860K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 860K (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The A12-9800E uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon X4 860K uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800E scores 3,416 against the Athlon X4 860K's 3,425 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon X4 860K.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB | 4 MB+100% |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,416 | 3,425 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 651 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A12-9800E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 860K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800E versus DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 860K — the A12-9800E supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9800E) vs 16 (Athlon X4 860K) — the Athlon X4 860K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800E) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 860K).
| Feature | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9800E) / not specified (Athlon X4 860K). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 860K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Low Power | — |
Value Analysis
The A12-9800E launched at $426 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 860K debuted at $80. At current prices ($150 vs $20), the Athlon X4 860K is $130 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9800E delivers 22.8 pts/$ vs 171.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 860K — making the Athlon X4 860K the 153.1% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $426 | $80-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $20-87% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 171.3+651% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2014 |
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