Athlon II X4 651 vs Pentium G4560

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X4 651

4 Cores4 Thrd100 WWMax: 3 GHz2011

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Pentium G4560

2 Cores4 Thrd51 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2017

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Athlon II X4 651

4 / 4

3,584

+1.4%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G4560

2 / 4

3,536

0.0%

Core i3-2120

Core 2 Duo T6670

Celeron Dual-Core T1400

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Athlon II X4 651

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.0 vs 55.3 PassMark/$ ($92 MSRP vs $64 MSRP).
❌96.1% higher power demand at 100W vs 51W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium G4560 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium G4560

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $28 less on MSRP ($64 MSRP vs $92 MSRP).
✅Delivers 41.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 55.3 vs 39.0 PassMark/$ ($64 MSRP vs $92 MSRP).
✅Draws 51W instead of 100W, a 49W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 610, while Athlon II X4 651 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 651 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,536 vs 3,584).

Athlon II X4 651

2011

Pentium G4560

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Costs $28 less on MSRP ($64 MSRP vs $92 MSRP).
✅Delivers 41.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 55.3 vs 39.0 PassMark/$ ($64 MSRP vs $92 MSRP).
✅Draws 51W instead of 100W, a 49W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 610, while Athlon II X4 651 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 39.0 vs 55.3 PassMark/$ ($92 MSRP vs $64 MSRP).
❌96.1% higher power demand at 100W vs 51W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium G4560 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 651 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,536 vs 3,584).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 651 better than Pentium G4560?

Yes. Athlon II X4 651 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.4% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 651 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 651 is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 651 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Athlon II X4 651 is 43.8% more expensive on MSRP at $92 MSRP versus $64 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium G4560 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2017 platform. Even with 41.8% better value on paper (55.3 vs 39.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Pentium G4560 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Athlon II X4 651 Benchmark Check

Pentium G4560 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
1080p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	82 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	87 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	66 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	69 FPS
medium	56 FPS	57 FPS
high	43 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	34 FPS

Open Athlon II X4 651 Open Pentium G4560

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
1080p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	66 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	81 FPS
high	90 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	57 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	68 FPS
medium	90 FPS	59 FPS
high	77 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	28 FPS

Open Athlon II X4 651 Open Pentium G4560

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
1080p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open Athlon II X4 651 Open Pentium G4560

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
1080p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	88 FPS
medium	90 FPS	88 FPS
high	90 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open Athlon II X4 651 Open Pentium G4560

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 651 and Pentium G4560

Athlon II X4 651

The Athlon II X4 651 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 3,584 points. Launch price was $149.

Pentium G4560

The Pentium G4560 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,536 points. Launch price was $108.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 651 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G4560 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 651 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 651 versus 3.5 GHz on the Pentium G4560 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Pentium G4560 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 651 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G4560 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 651 scores 3,584 against the Pentium G4560's 3,536 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 651. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 651 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G4560.

Feature	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,584+1%	3,536

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 651 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G4560 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 651 versus DDR4-2400 on the Pentium G4560 — the Pentium G4560 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium G4560 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.

Feature	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
Socket	FM1	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR4-2400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	64 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 651) / VT-x, VT-d (Pentium G4560). The Pentium G4560 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Athlon II X4 651 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G4560 targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X4 651	Pentium G4560
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 610
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Athlon II X4 651 launched at $92 MSRP, while the Pentium G4560 debuted at $64. On MSRP ($92 vs $64), the Pentium G4560 is $28 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 651 delivers 39.0 pts/$ vs 55.3 pts/$ for the Pentium G4560 — making the Pentium G4560 the 34.6% better value option.