Athlon II X4 641 vs Core i7-860S
Athlon II X4 641
Core i7-860S
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 X4 641 is positioned at rank 733 and the Core i7-860S is on rank 1033, so the Athlon II X4 641 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 X4 641
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) | ✅ More affordable ($96) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+7%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) | ✅ More affordable ($96) |
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 X4 641 and Core i7-860S
Athlon II X4 641
The Athlon II X4 641 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,313 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-860S
The Core i7-860S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,324 points. Launch price was $422.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 641 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-860S's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 641 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860S — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-860S (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Athlon II X4 641 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-860S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 641 scores 2,313 against the Core i7-860S's 2,324 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-860S. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 641 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860S.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.46 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+11% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,313 | 2,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 451 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,332 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 641 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-860S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 641 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 641) and P55,H55,H57,Q57 (Core i7-860S).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 641) / Yes (Core i7-860S).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 641 launched at $102 MSRP, while the Core i7-860S debuted at $299. At current prices ($102 vs $96), the Core i7-860S is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 641 delivers 22.7 pts/$ vs 24.2 pts/$ for the Core i7-860S — making the Core i7-860S the 6.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 641 | Core i7-860S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $102-66% | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $102 | $96-6% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.7 | 24.2+7% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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