Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE vs Core i7-2860QM
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-2860QM
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2860QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i7-2860QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i7-2860QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Silver PRO 3125GE and Core i7-2860QM
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 4,633 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-2860QM
The Core i7-2860QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,597 points. Launch price was $568.
Processing Power
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-2860QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-2860QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-2860QM — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2860QM (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i7-2860QM uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE scores 4,633 against the Core i7-2860QM's 4,597 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2860QM.
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i7-2860QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+36% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-63% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Picasso (2019−2022) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,633 | 4,597 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2860QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE versus 1600 on the Core i7-2860QM — the Core i7-2860QM supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) vs 16 (Core i7-2860QM) — the Core i7-2860QM offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM4 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i7-2860QM).
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i7-2860QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2667 | 1600+39900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+209715100% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) / true (Core i7-2860QM). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2860QM) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2860QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.
| Feature | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE | Core i7-2860QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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