Core i3-4012Y vs Athlon X2 QL-60
Core i3-4012Y
Athlon X2 QL-60
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 Core i3-4012Y is positioned at rank 526 and the Athlon X2 QL-60 is on rank 783, so the Core i3-4012Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4012Y
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-60
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4012Y | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4012Y | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-4012Y and Athlon X2 QL-60
Core i3-4012Y
The Core i3-4012Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,278 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon X2 QL-60
The Athlon X2 QL-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,273 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4012Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon X2 QL-60's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4012Y versus 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 QL-60. The Core i3-4012Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4012Y scores 1,278 against the Athlon X2 QL-60's 1,273 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-4012Y. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-4012Y vs 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-60.
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 1.9 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-66% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,278 | 1,273 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 485 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 988 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4012Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 on the Core i3-4012Y versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-60 — the Core i3-4012Y supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-4012Y supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-4012Y) vs 0 (Athlon X2 QL-60) — the Core i3-4012Y offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i3-4012Y) and AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-60).
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600+50% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / EPT (Core i3-4012Y) / not specified (Athlon X2 QL-60). The Core i3-4012Y includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4200), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4012Y targets Low Power.
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | Athlon X2 QL-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4200 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Low Power | — |
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