Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Z-60

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Z-60 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

2 / 2

1,255

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Z-60

2 / 2

1,249

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

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.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Z-60 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 X2 4200+ vs Z-60: 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 X2 4200+

2006

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $581 MSRP, while Z-60 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1680% higher power demand at 89W vs 5W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Z-60 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Z-60

2012

Why buy it

✅Draws 5W instead of 89W, a 84W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Athlon 64 X2 4200+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,249 vs 1,255).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 X2 4200+ better than Z-60?

Yes. Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% 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 X2 4200+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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 X2 4200+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 X2 4200+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $581 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (2.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Z-60 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 4200+ vs Z-60 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 X2 4200+

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Dezembro 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,255 points. Launch price was $309.

Z-60

The Z-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Hondo (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,249 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ and Z-60 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ versus 1 GHz on the Z-60 — a 75% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 4200+. The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Z-60 uses Hondo (2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ scores 1,255 against the Z-60's 1,249 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 4200+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Z-60
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz+120%	1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB+100%
Process	90 nm	40 nm-56%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Hondo (2012)
PassMark	1,255	1,249
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	658

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 4200+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Z-60 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ versus DDR3-1066 on the Z-60 — the Z-60 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 X2 4200+) vs 1 (Z-60).

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 4200+	Z-60
Socket	939	FT1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3-1066+33%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2+100%	1
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 4200+) / AMD-V (Z-60). The Z-60 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Z-60 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: Z-60 rivals Core i3-2310M.