Athlon II X4 605e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

Athlon II X4 605e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 605e

4 / 4

1,964

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

2 / 2

1,965

+0.1%

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 II X4 605e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 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 X4 605e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86: 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 X4 605e

2009

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,964 vs 1,965).
❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌2150% higher power demand at 45W vs 2W.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 45W, a 43W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 605e.

Quick Answers

So, is Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 better than Athlon II X4 605e?

Yes. Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 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 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 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, Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $143 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 605e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (13.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Athlon II X4 605e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 605e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 605e

The Athlon II X4 605e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,964 points. Launch price was $102.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

The Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Griffin (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,965 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 605e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 605e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 605e versus 2.4 GHz on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86. The Athlon II X4 605e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses Griffin (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 605e scores 1,964 against the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86's 1,965 — a 0.1% lead for the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X4 605e	Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.3 GHz	2.4 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	2 MB+300%
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Griffin (2008−2009)
PassMark	1,964	1,965
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,140	—
Geekbench 6 Single	300	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,069	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 605e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 605e versus DDR2-800 on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 — the Athlon II X4 605e supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 605e supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 605e) vs 0 (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86) — the Athlon II X4 605e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon II X4 605e	Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Socket	AM3	S1g2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+67%	DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+700%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 605e targets Desktop, Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 targets Mobile.