Core i7-870S vs Athlon X4 750
Core i7-870S
Athlon X4 750
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 X4 750 is on rank 611, so the Athlon X4 750 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 X4 750
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+19%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
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 X4 750
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 X4 750
The Athlon X4 750 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,751 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-870S packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Athlon X4 750's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870S versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 750 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 750 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-870S uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X4 750 uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-870S scores 2,765 against the Athlon X4 750's 2,751 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-870S.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.4 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,765 | 2,751 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-870S uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X4 750 uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-870S) / AMD-V (Athlon X4 750). Primary use case: Athlon X4 750 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-870S launched at $300 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 750 debuted at $95. At current prices ($80 vs $95), the Core i7-870S is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-870S delivers 34.6 pts/$ vs 29.0 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 750 — making the Core i7-870S the 17.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-870S | Athlon X4 750 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $95-68% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-16% | $95 |
| Performance per Dollar | 34.6+19% | 29.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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