Athlon X4 870K vs Ryzen 5 3600
Athlon X4 870K
Ryzen 5 3600
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. The Athlon X4 870K is positioned at rank #515 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 870K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+125%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Athlon X4 870K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Athlon X4 870K versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon X4 870K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 134.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.2 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+8% | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-75% |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 3,443 | 17,685+414% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,295 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 870K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 870K) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 870K) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 870K) / Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X4 870K launched at $90 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($35 vs $80), the Athlon X4 870K is $45 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X4 870K delivers 98.4 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 76.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $90-55% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35-56% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 98.4 | 221.1+125% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2019 |
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