Athlon X4 870K vs Athlon X4 860K
Athlon X4 870K
Athlon X4 860K
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 870K is positioned at rank 515 and the Athlon X4 860K is on rank 480, 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 870K
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 860K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+74%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 870K and Athlon X4 860K
Athlon X4 870K
The Athlon X4 870K 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 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 3,443 points. Launch price was $149.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 870K and Athlon X4 860K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 870K (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Athlon X4 870K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon X4 860K uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Athlon X4 860K's 3,425 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon X4 870K.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+2% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+5% | 3.7 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,443 | 3,425 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the FM2+ socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR3-2133 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 870K) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 860K).
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 870K launched at $90 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 860K debuted at $80. At current prices ($35 vs $20), the Athlon X4 860K is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 870K delivers 98.4 pts/$ vs 171.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 860K — making the Athlon X4 860K the 54.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $90 | $80-11% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35 | $20-43% |
| Performance per Dollar | 98.4 | 171.3+74% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2014 |
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