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AMD Athlon 425e vs AMD Athlon 860K: Comparison
Athlon 425e vs Athlon 860K: the total cores difference
There is no decisive spec gap here. Total cores splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, Athlon 425e 3 against Athlon 860K 4. On performance cores there is little in it, 3 on the Athlon 425e versus 4 on the Athlon 860K. Total threads is closer, 3 on the Athlon 425e versus 4 on the Athlon 860K. Add l2 cache to that, 1.5 MB on the Athlon 425e versus 4 MB on the Athlon 860K, and the pattern holds. P-core base clock is not the same on both, 2.7 GHz on the Athlon 425e versus 3.7 GHz on the Athlon 860K. They differ on tdp too, 45 W on the Athlon 425e versus 95 W on the Athlon 860K. They differ on socket too, AM3 on the Athlon 425e versus FM2+ on the Athlon 860K. There is a split on unlocked multiplier as well, No on the Athlon 425e versus Yes on the Athlon 860K. Base power is not the same on both, 45 W on the Athlon 425e versus 95 W on the Athlon 860K.
Who each one is for
The Athlon 425e is the one to take for Athlon platform upgrades or repairs and budget legacy builds, though it is the wrong buy for modern gaming or productivity workloads and new builds. The Athlon 860K suits Athlon platform upgrades or repairs and budget legacy builds, though it is not built for modern gaming or productivity workloads and new builds.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, integrated graphics, socket status, product line and form factor read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Athlon 425e and Athlon 860K differ on memory type?
Yes. Memory Type reads DDR3 on the Athlon 425e versus DDR3, 2-Channel, Up to 2133 MT/s on the Athlon 860K.
Is the iGPU the same on the Athlon 425e and Athlon 860K?
It is. Both are listed at Discrete Graphics Card Required, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD Athlon 425e
- AMD
- AMD Athlon 860K
- AMD
Product Line
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Other
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Other
Form Factor
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Desktop
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Desktop
Codename
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Athlon Legacy
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Athlon Legacy
TDP
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 45 W
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 95 W
iGPU
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Discrete Graphics Card Required
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Discrete Graphics Card Required
Market Segment
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Desktop
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Desktop
Socket
- AMD Athlon 425e
- AM3
- AMD Athlon 860K
- FM2+
Socket Status
- AMD Athlon 425e
- End of Life
- AMD Athlon 860K
- End of Life
Process Node
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 45nm
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 28nm
Total Cores
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 3
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 4Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 3
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 4Best
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 0
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 3
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 4Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Athlon 425e
- No
- AMD Athlon 860K
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 2.7 GHz
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 3.7 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Athlon 425e
- No
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 1.5 MB-62%
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 4 MBBest
Base Power
- AMD Athlon 425e
- 45 W
- AMD Athlon 860K
- 95 W
Memory Type
- AMD Athlon 425e
- DDR3
- AMD Athlon 860K
- DDR3, 2-Channel, Up to 2133 MT/s
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Athlon 425e
- No
- AMD Athlon 860K
- No
Retail Availability
- AMD Athlon 425e
- Tray OEM
- AMD Athlon 860K
- Boxed Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose 425e if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose 860K if you want the higher L2 cache (4 MB vs 1.5 MB).