Athlon X4 860K vs A12-9800E
Athlon X4 860K
A12-9800E
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 860K is positioned at rank 480 and the A12-9800E is on rank 1029, so the Athlon X4 860K 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 860K
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+652%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 860K and A12-9800E
Athlon X4 860K
The Athlon X4 860K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,425 points. Launch price was $149.
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 860K and A12-9800E share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K versus 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 860K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon X4 860K uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the A12-9800E uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 860K scores 3,425 against the A12-9800E's 3,416 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon X4 860K.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+5% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+19% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+100% | 2048 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Kaveri (2014−2015) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,425 | 3,416 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 651 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 860K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9800E uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 860K versus DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800E — the A12-9800E supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 860K) vs 8 (A12-9800E) — the Athlon X4 860K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 860K) and A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800E).
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 860K) / AMD-V (A12-9800E). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 860K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 860K launched at $80 MSRP, while the A12-9800E debuted at $426. At current prices ($20 vs $150), the Athlon X4 860K is $130 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 860K delivers 171.3 pts/$ vs 22.8 pts/$ for the A12-9800E — making the Athlon X4 860K the 153.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-81% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-87% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 171.3+651% | 22.8 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2017 |
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