Core i7-860S vs Athlon II X4 641
Core i7-860S
Athlon II X4 641
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 i7-860S is positioned at rank 1033 and the Athlon II X4 641 is on rank 733, so the Athlon II X4 641 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860S
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 641
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($96) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+7%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($96) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
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 i7-860S and Athlon II X4 641
Core i7-860S
The Core i7-860S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,324 points. Launch price was $422.
Athlon II X4 641
The Athlon II X4 641 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,313 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-860S packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Athlon II X4 641's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860S versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X4 641 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-860S (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i7-860S uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 641 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-860S scores 2,324 against the Athlon II X4 641's 2,313 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-860S. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860S vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 641.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+24% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.8 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,324 | 2,313 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 451 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-860S uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 641 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 641 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: P55,H55,H57,Q57 (Core i7-860S) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 641).
| Feature | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i7-860S) / not specified (Athlon II X4 641).
| Feature | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-860S launched at $299 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 641 debuted at $102. At current prices ($96 vs $102), the Core i7-860S is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-860S delivers 24.2 pts/$ vs 22.7 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 641 — making the Core i7-860S the 6.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | Athlon II X4 641 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $102-66% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $96-6% | $102 |
| Performance per Dollar | 24.2+7% | 22.7 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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