Athlon X4 850 vs Core i3-6157U
Athlon X4 850
Core i3-6157U
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 X4 850 is positioned at rank 539 and the Core i3-6157U is on rank 630, so the Athlon X4 850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 850
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6157U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 850 | Core i3-6157U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 850 | Core i3-6157U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 X4 850 and Core i3-6157U
Athlon X4 850
The Athlon X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 2,756 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-6157U
The Core i3-6157U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,782 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 850 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6157U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X4 850 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-6157U — a 47.6% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 850 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon X4 850 uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-6157U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 850 scores 2,756 against the Core i3-6157U's 2,782 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-6157U.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i3-6157U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+63% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,756 | 2,782 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 850 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-6157U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 850 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6157U — the Core i3-6157U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 850 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 850) vs 12 (Core i3-6157U) — the Athlon X4 850 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i3-6157U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon X4 850 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon X4 850) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6157U). The Core i3-6157U includes integrated graphics (Iris Graphics 550), while the Athlon X4 850 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X4 850 targets Desktop, Core i3-6157U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i3-6157U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Graphics 550 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Mobile |
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