Core i7-870S vs Athlon PRO 3045B
Core i7-870S
Athlon PRO 3045B
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 i7-870S is positioned at rank 1008 and the Athlon PRO 3045B is on rank 1177, so the Core i7-870S offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-870S
Performance Per Dollar Athlon PRO 3045B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Dali (2020−2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+125%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 i7-870S and Athlon PRO 3045B
Core i7-870S
The Core i7-870S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 July 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 2,765 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon PRO 3045B
The Athlon PRO 3045B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Dali (2020−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,770 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-870S packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Athlon PRO 3045B offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-870S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870S versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon PRO 3045B — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-870S (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-870S uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon PRO 3045B uses Dali (2020−2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-870S scores 2,765 against the Athlon PRO 3045B's 2,770 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon PRO 3045B. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-870S vs 4 MB (total) on the Athlon PRO 3045B.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+12% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+16% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Dali (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 2,765 | 2,770 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-870S uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon PRO 3045B uses FP5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
The Athlon PRO 3045B includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Vega 3), while the Core i7-870S requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-870S launched at $300 MSRP, while the Athlon PRO 3045B debuted at $426. At current prices ($80 vs $180), the Core i7-870S is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-870S delivers 34.6 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Athlon PRO 3045B — making the Core i7-870S the 76.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon PRO 3045B |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300-30% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-56% | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 34.6+125% | 15.4 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2021 |
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