Athlon 64 3500+ vs Atom S1260

Athlon 64 3500+ vs Atom S1260 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 3500+

1 / 1

570

+2.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Atom S1260

2 / 4

555

0.0%

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.

Athlon 64 3500+ vs Atom S1260 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.

Athlon 64 3500+ vs Atom S1260: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 3500+

2001

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $272 MSRP, while Atom S1260 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌888.9% higher power demand at 89W vs 9W.

Atom S1260

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 9W instead of 89W, a 80W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (555 vs 570).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 3500+ better than Atom S1260?

Yes. Athlon 64 3500+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 2.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 3500+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% 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 64 3500+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.7% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

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

Athlon 64 3500+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 3500+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $272 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (2.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Atom S1260 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2001). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 3500+ vs Atom S1260 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 3500+

The Athlon 64 3500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 570 points. Launch price was $59.

Atom S1260

The Atom S1260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2012 (12 years ago). It is based on the Centerton (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1283. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 555 points. Launch price was $64.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 64 3500+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Atom S1260 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Atom S1260 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3500+ versus 2 GHz on the Atom S1260 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3500+. The Athlon 64 3500+ uses the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Atom S1260 uses Centerton (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3500+ scores 570 against the Atom S1260's 555 — a 2.7% lead for the Athlon 64 3500+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 3500+	Atom S1260
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	2 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz+10%	2 GHz
Base Clock	—	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB (per core)
Process	130 nm	32 nm-75%
Architecture	San Diego (2001−2005)	Centerton (2012)
PassMark	570+3%	555

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 3500+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom S1260 uses FCBGA1283 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 3500+ versus DDR3-1333 on the Atom S1260 — the Atom S1260 supports -433.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom S1260 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 3500+) vs 1 (Atom S1260). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3500+) vs 8 (Atom S1260) — the Atom S1260 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 939 (Athlon 64 3500+) and Intel BGA1283 (Atom S1260).

Feature	Athlon 64 3500+	Atom S1260
Socket	939	FCBGA1283
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR-400	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2+100%	1
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	8