Core i5-680 vs Athlon X4 970
Core i5-680
Athlon X4 970
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 i5-680 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Athlon X4 970 is on rank 582, so the Athlon X4 970 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-680
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+742%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
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 i5-680 and Athlon X4 970
Core i5-680
The Core i5-680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.86 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,620 points. Launch price was $272.
Athlon X4 970
The Athlon X4 970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,644 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-680 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon X4 970 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.86 GHz on the Core i5-680 versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-680 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X4 970 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-680 scores 2,620 against the Athlon X4 970's 2,644 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon X4 970. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-680 vs 0 kB on the Athlon X4 970.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.86 GHz | 4 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,620 | 2,644 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-680 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X4 970 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-680 versus DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 970 — the Athlon X4 970 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 970 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-680) vs 8 (Athlon X4 970) — the Core i5-680 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-680) / not specified (Athlon X4 970). The Core i5-680 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Athlon X4 970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-680 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-680 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 970 debuted at $85. At current prices ($10 vs $85), the Core i5-680 is $75 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-680 delivers 262.0 pts/$ vs 31.1 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 970 — making the Core i5-680 the 157.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $85-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-88% | $85 |
| Performance per Dollar | 262.0+742% | 31.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2017 |
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