A12-9800E vs Athlon X4 860K

CPU

GPU

A12-9800E

4 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2017

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Athlon X4 860K

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 4 GHz2014

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A12-9800E vs Athlon X4 860K Performance Spectrum

A12-9800E

4 / 4

3,416

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 860K

4 / 4

3,425

+0.3%

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.

A12-9800E vs Athlon X4 860K FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A12-9800E vs Athlon X4 860K: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A12-9800E

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon X4 860K needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon X4 860K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 860K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,416 vs 3,425).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.0 vs 42.8 PassMark/$ ($426 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).

Athlon X4 860K

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $346 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
✅Delivers 433.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 42.8 vs 8.0 PassMark/$ ($80 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9800E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A12-9800E.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 860K better than A12-9800E?

Yes. Athlon X4 860K is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 860K is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 860K is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 860K is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 860K comes in $346 cheaper on MSRP at $80 MSRP versus $426 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 433.9% better value on MSRP (42.8 vs 8.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, A12-9800E can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

A12-9800E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A12-9800E vs Athlon X4 860K Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 12.5% 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+13%	DDR3-2133
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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

At launch, the A12-9800E was priced at $426, while the Athlon X4 860K came in at $80. On launch pricing ($426 vs $80), Athlon X4 860K was $346 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9800E delivers 8.0 pts/$ vs 42.8 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 860K — making the Athlon X4 860K the 136.9% better value option.

Feature	A12-9800E	Athlon X4 860K
MSRP	$426	$80-81%
Performance per Dollar	8.0	42.8+435%
Release Date	2017	2014

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