Athlon II X4 610e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

AMD

Athlon II X4 610e

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010
VS
AMD

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86

2 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2008

Athlon II X4 610e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 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 X4 610e 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 610e 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 610e

2010

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,959 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

  • βœ…+0.3% higher PassMark.
  • βœ…Draws 2W instead of 45W, a 43W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 610e.

Quick Answers

So, is Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 better than Athlon II X4 610e?
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 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.
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 0.3% 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 $143 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 610e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (13.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 610e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 610e vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X4 610e

The Athlon II X4 610e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009βˆ’2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,959 points. Launch price was $70.

AMD

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 (2008βˆ’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.

⚑

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 610e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 offers 2 cores / 2 threads β€” the Athlon II X4 610e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II X4 610e versus 2.4 GHz on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 β€” identical boost frequencies. The Athlon II X4 610e uses the Propus (2009βˆ’2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses Griffin (2008βˆ’2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 610e scores 1,959 against the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86's 1,965 β€” a 0.3% lead for the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon II X4 610eTurion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.4 GHz
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
2.4 GHz
β€”
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
2 MB+300%
Process
45 nm-31%
65 nm
Architecture
Propus (2009βˆ’2011)
Griffin (2008βˆ’2009)
PassMark
1,959
1,965
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 610e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 610e versus DDR2-800 on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 β€” the Athlon II X4 610e supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 610e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB β€” 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 610e) vs 0 (Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86) β€” the Athlon II X4 610e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureAthlon II X4 610eTurion 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
16 GB+300%
4 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 targets Mobile.

FeatureAthlon II X4 610eTurion X2 Ultra ZM-86
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
β€”
Mobile