Athlon X4 870K vs Core i7-2657M
Athlon X4 870K
Core i7-2657M
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 Core i7-2657M is on rank 268, so the Core i7-2657M 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 Core i7-2657M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ 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 870K and Core i7-2657M
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.
Core i7-2657M
The Core i7-2657M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,491 points. Launch price was $317.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 870K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-2657M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i7-2657M — a 41.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 870K (base: 3.9 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 870K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-2657M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Core i7-2657M's 3,491 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i7-2657M.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+52% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+144% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,443 | 3,491+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 535 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2657M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-2133 memory speed. The Athlon X4 870K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 870K) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67,UM67 (Core i7-2657M).
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+700% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 870K) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2657M). The Core i7-2657M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon X4 870K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2657M targets Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i7-2657M rivals A6-3420M.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Core i7-2657M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Ultrabook |
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