Athlon X4 860K vs Xeon W5580
Athlon X4 860K
Xeon W5580
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 Xeon W5580 is on rank 657, 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 Xeon W5580
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 860K | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 860K and Xeon W5580
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.
Xeon W5580
The Xeon W5580 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) 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: 3,459 points. Launch price was $102.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 860K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon W5580's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K versus 3.46 GHz on the Xeon W5580 — 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 Xeon W5580 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 860K scores 3,425 against the Xeon W5580's 3,459 — a 1% lead for the Xeon W5580.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,425 | 3,459 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 860K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W5580 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 860K | Xeon W5580 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
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