Core i7-2860QM vs Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-2860QM
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 i7-2860QM is positioned at rank #68 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced 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 i7-2860QM
Performance Per Dollar Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2860QM | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso (2019−2022) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2860QM | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 i7-2860QM and Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE
Core i7-2860QM
The Core i7-2860QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,597 points. Launch price was $568.
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 i7-2860QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-2860QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-2860QM versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2860QM (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-2860QM 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 i7-2860QM scores 4,597 against the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE's 4,633 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2860QM vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE.
| Feature | Core i7-2860QM | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+6% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.4 GHz+36% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 12 nm-63% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Picasso (2019−2022) |
| PassMark | 4,597 | 4,633 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2860QM uses the PGA988 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 1600 on the Core i7-2860QM versus DDR4-2667 on the Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE — the Core i7-2860QM supports 199% 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 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-2860QM) vs 8 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) — the Core i7-2860QM offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i7-2860QM) and AMD AM4 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE).
| Feature | Core i7-2860QM | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+39900% | DDR4-2667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 64 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-2860QM) / not specified (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2860QM) and AMD Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2860QM rivals AMD A8-3510MX.
| Feature | Core i7-2860QM | Athlon Silver PRO 3125GE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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