Core i7-2600S vs Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-2600S
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
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. The Core i7-2600S is positioned at rank #889 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2600S
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($99) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+41%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($99) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
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 i7-2600S and Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-2600S
The Core i7-2600S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (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: 4,637 points. Launch price was $210.
Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Picasso (2019−2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 4,633 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2600S packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-2600S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600S versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600S (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-2600S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses Picasso (2019−2022) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2600S scores 4,637 against the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE's 4,633 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-2600S. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-2600S vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE.
| Feature | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+12% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 12 nm-63% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Picasso (2019−2022) |
| PassMark | 4,637 | 4,633 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 630 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2600S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i7-2600S versus DDR4-2667 on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-2600S) vs 8 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) — the Core i7-2600S offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,Z68,B75 (Core i7-2600S) and AMD AM4 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE).
| Feature | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2667+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-2600S) / not specified (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i7-2600S) and AMD Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600S targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600S rivals Phenom II X4 910e.
| Feature | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-2600S launched at $297 MSRP, while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE debuted at $108. At current prices ($99 vs $70), the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE is $29 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-2600S delivers 46.8 pts/$ vs 66.2 pts/$ for the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — making the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE the 34.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-2600S | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $297 | $108-64% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $99 | $70-29% |
| Performance per Dollar | 46.8 | 66.2+41% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2020 |
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