CPU
GPU
Athlon X4 850
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 X4 850 is positioned at rank 539 and the Core i7-870S is on rank 1008, 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 i7-870S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+299%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 X4 850 and Core i7-870S
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 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 X4 850 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-870S's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X4 850 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870S — a 8% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 850 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon X4 850 uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-870S uses Lynnfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 850 scores 2,756 against the Core i7-870S's 2,765 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-870S.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+20% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Lynnfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,756 | 2,765 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 850 uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-870S uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon X4 850) / not specified (Core i7-870S). Primary use case: Athlon X4 850 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 850 launched at $77 MSRP, while the Core i7-870S debuted at $300. At current prices ($20 vs $80), the Athlon X4 850 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 850 delivers 137.8 pts/$ vs 34.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-870S — making the Athlon X4 850 the 119.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 850 | Core i7-870S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $77-74% | $300 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-75% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.8+298% | 34.6 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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