CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 260
Atom x5-Z8500
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 Athlon II X2 260 is positioned at rank 780 and the Atom x5-Z8500 is on rank 450, so the Atom x5-Z8500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 260
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 260 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cherry Trail (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 260 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($12) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Athlon II X2 260 and Atom x5-Z8500
Athlon II X2 260
The Athlon II X2 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $48.
Atom x5-Z8500
The Atom x5-Z8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,242 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 260 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 260 versus 2.24 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8500 — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 260 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.44 GHz). The Athlon II X2 260 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 260 scores 1,248 against the Atom x5-Z8500's 1,242 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X2 260. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+43% | 2.24 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+122% | 1.44 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Cherry Trail (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,248 | 1,242 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 260 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 260 versus LPDDR3-1600 on the Atom x5-Z8500 — the Athlon II X2 260 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 260 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 260) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500) — the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 260) and Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x5-Z8500).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | UTFCBGA1380 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 8 GB+52428700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 2 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Athlon II X2 260) / not specified (Atom x5-Z8500). The Atom x5-Z8500 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)), while the Athlon II X2 260 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 260 rivals Pentium E6700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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