Athlon X4 860K vs Core i7-960
Athlon X4 860K
Core i7-960
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 Core i7-960 is on rank 979, 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 Core i7-960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+454%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 Core i7-960
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.
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 860K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-960's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 860K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon X4 860K uses the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 860K scores 3,425 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X4 860K.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+16% | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kaveri (2014−2015) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,425 | 3,400 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 860K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1366 |
| 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 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 860K launched at $80 MSRP, while the Core i7-960 debuted at $309. At current prices ($20 vs $110), the Athlon X4 860K is $90 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 860K delivers 171.3 pts/$ vs 30.9 pts/$ for the Core i7-960 — making the Athlon X4 860K the 138.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-74% | $309 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-82% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 171.3+454% | 30.9 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2009 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon X4 860K and Core i7-960
