Athlon PRO 3045B vs Core i7-870S
Athlon PRO 3045B
Core i7-870S
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 PRO 3045B is positioned at rank 1177 and the Core i7-870S is on rank 1008, so the Core i7-870S offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon PRO 3045B
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-870S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Dali (2020−2021) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+125%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 PRO 3045B and Core i7-870S
Athlon PRO 3045B
The Athlon PRO 3045B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Dali (2020−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,770 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-870S
The Core i7-870S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 2,765 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon PRO 3045B packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-870S offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-870S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon PRO 3045B versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870S — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-870S (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon PRO 3045B uses the Dali (2020−2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-870S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon PRO 3045B scores 2,770 against the Core i7-870S's 2,765 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon PRO 3045B. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon PRO 3045B vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-870S.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.66 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Dali (2020−2021) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,770 | 2,765 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon PRO 3045B uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-870S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
Advanced Features
The Athlon PRO 3045B includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-870S requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon PRO 3045B launched at $426 MSRP, while the Core i7-870S debuted at $300. At current prices ($180 vs $80), the Core i7-870S is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon PRO 3045B delivers 15.4 pts/$ vs 34.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-870S — making the Core i7-870S the 76.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon PRO 3045B | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $426 | $300-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180 | $80-56% |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.4 | 34.6+125% |
| Release Date | 2021 | 2010 |
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