Athlon X4 870K vs Xeon E5-1603
Athlon X4 870K
Xeon E5-1603
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 Xeon E5-1603 is on rank 655, so the Athlon X4 870K 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 Xeon E5-1603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Legacy / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 870K | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5-1603
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.
Xeon E5-1603
The Xeon E5-1603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 3,482 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 870K and Xeon E5-1603 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. The Athlon X4 870K is built on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon X4 870K scores 3,443 against the Xeon E5-1603's 3,482 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E5-1603.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+39% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 10 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | — |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | — |
| PassMark | 3,443 | 3,482+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 870K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X4 870K | Xeon E5-1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA2011 |
| 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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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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