Core i3-4150 vs Athlon X4 860K
Core i3-4150
Athlon X4 860K
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 i3-4150 is positioned at rank 960 and the Athlon X4 860K is on rank 480, so the Athlon X4 860K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4150
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 860K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+252%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 i3-4150 and Athlon X4 860K
Core i3-4150
The Core i3-4150 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,406 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon X4 860K
The Athlon X4 860K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 3,425 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4150 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 860K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 860K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-4150 versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 860K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i3-4150 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon X4 860K uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4150 scores 3,406 against the Athlon X4 860K's 3,425 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon X4 860K.
| Feature | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,406 | 3,425 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,071 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4150 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 860K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Athlon X4 860K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H81,B85,Q85,H87,Q87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i3-4150) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 860K).
| Feature | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4150) / not specified (Athlon X4 860K). The Core i3-4150 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon X4 860K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4150 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-4150 rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-4150 launched at $281 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 860K debuted at $80. At current prices ($70 vs $20), the Athlon X4 860K is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-4150 delivers 48.7 pts/$ vs 171.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 860K — making the Athlon X4 860K the 111.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-4150 | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $281 | $80-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70 | $20-71% |
| Performance per Dollar | 48.7 | 171.3+252% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2014 |
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