Atom S1260 vs Athlon 64 3600+
Atom S1260
Athlon 64 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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Atom S1260 is positioned at rank 749 and the Athlon 64 3600+ is on rank 1078, so the Atom S1260 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom S1260
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3600+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom S1260 | Athlon 64 3600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Centerton (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom S1260 | Athlon 64 3600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Atom S1260 and Athlon 64 3600+
Atom S1260
The Atom S1260 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2012 (12 years ago). It is based on the Centerton (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1283. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 555 points. Launch price was $64.
Athlon 64 3600+
The Athlon 64 3600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 595 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom S1260 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon 64 3600+ offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Atom S1260 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom S1260 versus 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3600+ — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3600+. The Atom S1260 uses the Centerton (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon 64 3600+ uses Clawhammer (2001−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Atom S1260 scores 555 against the Athlon 64 3600+'s 595 — a 7% lead for the Athlon 64 3600+.
| Feature | Atom S1260 | Athlon 64 3600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4+100% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-75% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Centerton (2012) | Clawhammer (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 555 | 595+7% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom S1260 uses the FCBGA1283 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 3600+ uses 754 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Atom S1260 versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3600+ — the Atom S1260 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 3600+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom S1260) vs 2 (Athlon 64 3600+). PCIe lanes: 8 (Atom S1260) vs 0 (Athlon 64 3600+) — the Atom S1260 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel BGA1283 (Atom S1260) and AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 3600+).
| Feature | Atom S1260 | Athlon 64 3600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1283 | 754 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 0 |
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