Core i5-760 vs Athlon X4 970
Core i5-760
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 i5-760 is positioned at rank 973 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 i5-760
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-760 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($61) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-760 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+41%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($61) | ⚠️ 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 i5-760 and Athlon X4 970
Core i5-760
The Core i5-760 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,667 points. Launch price was $230.
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
Both the Core i5-760 and Athlon X4 970 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core i5-760 versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 — a 18.3% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-760 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X4 970 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-760 scores 2,667 against the Athlon X4 970's 2,644 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-760. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i5-760 vs 0 kB on the Athlon X4 970.
| Feature | Core i5-760 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz | 4 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz+36% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,667 | 2,644 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 470 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-760 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 i5-760 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 i5-760) vs 8 (Athlon X4 970) — the Core i5-760 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P55,H55,H57,Q57 (Core i5-760) and AMD AM4 (Athlon X4 970).
| Feature | Core i5-760 | 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, EPT (Core i5-760) / not specified (Athlon X4 970). Primary use case: Core i5-760 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-760 rivals Phenom II X4 970.
| Feature | Core i5-760 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-760 launched at $230 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 970 debuted at $85. At current prices ($61 vs $85), the Core i5-760 is $24 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-760 delivers 43.7 pts/$ vs 31.1 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 970 — making the Core i5-760 the 33.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-760 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $230 | $85-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $61-28% | $85 |
| Performance per Dollar | 43.7+41% | 31.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2017 |
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