Core i5-2405S vs Athlon X4 860K
Core i5-2405S
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 i5-2405S is positioned at rank 981 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 i5-2405S
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 860K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+505%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ 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 i5-2405S and Athlon X4 860K
Core i5-2405S
The Core i5-2405S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,397 points. Launch price was $472.
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
Both the Core i5-2405S and Athlon X4 860K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2405S versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 860K — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 860K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-2405S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X4 860K uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2405S scores 3,397 against the Athlon X4 860K's 3,425 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon X4 860K.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 4 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+48% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,397 | 3,425 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 557 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,480 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2405S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X4 860K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 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: H61,B65,Q65,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2405S) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 860K).
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 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 i5-2405S) / not specified (Athlon X4 860K). The Core i5-2405S includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon X4 860K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2405S targets Budget.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2405S launched at $309 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 860K debuted at $80. At current prices ($120 vs $20), the Athlon X4 860K is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2405S delivers 28.3 pts/$ vs 171.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 860K — making the Athlon X4 860K the 143.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2405S | Athlon X4 860K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309 | $80-74% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $120 | $20-83% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.3 | 171.3+505% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-2405S and Athlon X4 860K
