Athlon II Neo K125 vs C-60

AMD

Athlon II Neo K125

1 Cores1 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.7 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

C-60

2 Cores2 Thrd9 WWMax: 1.33 GHz2011
Similar parts
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Athlon II Neo K125 vs C-60 Performance Spectrum

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 II Neo K125 vs C-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 II Neo K125 vs C-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 II Neo K125

2010

Why buy it

  • Draws 1W instead of 9W, a 8W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.9 vs 29.7 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
  • No integrated graphics, while C-60 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

C-60

2011

Why buy it

  • Costs $50 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • Delivers 98.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 29.7 vs 14.9 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6290, while Athlon II Neo K125 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,483 vs 1,491).
  • 800% higher power demand at 9W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II Neo K125 better than C-60?
Yes. Athlon II Neo K125 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.1% 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 II Neo K125 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% 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 II Neo K125 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II Neo K125 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Athlon II Neo K125 comes in 100.0% more expensive on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $50 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. C-60 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
C-60 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II Neo K125 vs C-60 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II Neo K125

The Athlon II Neo K125 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,491 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

C-60

The C-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 22 August 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 1.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,483 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon II Neo K125 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the C-60 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the C-60 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K125 versus 1.33 GHz on the C-60 — a 24.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II Neo K125. The Athlon II Neo K125 uses the Geneva (2010) architecture (45 nm), while the C-60 uses Ontario (2011−2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K125 scores 1,491 against the C-60's 1,483 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II Neo K125.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K125C-60
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
2 / 2+100%
Boost Clock
1.7 GHz+28%
1.33 GHz
Base Clock
1 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
512K (per core)+51100%
Process
45 nm
40 nm-11%
Architecture
Geneva (2010)
Ontario (2011−2012)
PassMark
1,491
1,483
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II Neo K125 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the C-60 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-800 on the Athlon II Neo K125 versus DDR3-1066 on the C-60 — the C-60 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II Neo K125) vs 1 (C-60). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II Neo K125) vs 4 (C-60) — the C-60 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD ASB2 (Athlon II Neo K125) and AMD BGA413 (C-60).

FeatureAthlon II Neo K125C-60
Socket
S1
FT1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-800
DDR3-1066+33%
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB
4 GB
RAM Channels
2+100%
1
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
4
🔧

Advanced Features

The C-60 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6290), while the Athlon II Neo K125 requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K125C-60
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6290
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II Neo K125 was priced at $100, while the C-60 came in at $50. On launch pricing ($100 vs $50), C-60 was $50 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II Neo K125 delivers 14.9 pts/$ vs 29.7 pts/$ for the C-60 — making the C-60 the 66.2% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K125C-60
MSRP
$100
$50-50%
Performance per Dollar
14.9
29.7+99%
Release Date
2010
2011

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