AMD Athlon X4 860K vs Intel Celeron N5105 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Celeron N5105 wins every recorded benchmark comparison against the AMD Athlon X4 860K. The most decisive margins appear in the Cinebench suite, where the N5105 leads by roughly 16% across both multi-core and single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N5105 scores 341 against 294 for the Athlon, a 16% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1422 versus 1225, a 16.1% edge, while R23 multi-core records 3388 against 2918, again a 16.1% gap. Single-core results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R20 single-core gives the N5105 a 200 to 172 win (16.3%), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 478 versus 411, also a 16.3% margin.

The Geekbench results are closer but still favor Intel. Multi-core Geekbench has the N5105 at 1189 versus 1126, a 5.6% lead, while single-core Geekbench shows 516 against 454, a 13.7% advantage. Across all seven head-to-head tests, the Celeron N5105 records seven wins and the Athlon X4 860K records zero. The average benchmark score in the database places the N5105 at 955 and the Athlon at 943, a modest overall gap of about 1.3% in aggregate. Both CPUs sit at the 25th percentile among all processors in the database, meaning neither reaches beyond the lower quarter of performance rankings.

The N5105's lead is consistent rather than workload-specific. The 16% margins in Cinebench suggest a structural advantage in sustained threaded workloads, while the narrower 5.6% Geekbench multi-core result indicates that some mixed workloads narrow the gap. The single-core Geekbench delta of 13.7% sits between the Cinebench single-core margin and the multi-core Geekbench margin, so the Intel part does not merely win on one axis. It wins everywhere, but the size of the win varies by test.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Celeron N5105 as the stronger performer in every measured benchmark. Users choosing between these two end-of-life processors should default to the N5105 unless platform requirements override performance. The Celeron leads by 16.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 16.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core, making it the clear choice for rendering workloads and general responsiveness alike. The Athlon X4 860K never takes the lead in any recorded test, and its best relative showing is a 5.6% deficit in Geekbench multi-core.

The N5105 also carries a far lower thermal envelope, with a 10 W TDP versus 95 W for the Athlon, which makes it suitable for compact or passively cooled systems. The Athlon's only advantages in the database are platform-related: it uses the AMD Socket FM2+ with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the N5105 uses Intel BGA 1338 with 8 lanes. The Athlon has an unlocked multiplier, so it offers manual overclocking, but the benchmark data shows no overclocked results recorded for it. For pure out-of-the-box performance, the N5105 wins every test. The verdict is straightforward: pick the Celeron for performance and efficiency, pick the Athlon only if the socket, PCIe lane count, or unlocked multiplier matters more than benchmark scores.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core Cinebench score?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 scores 3388 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Athlon X4 860K scores 2918, a 16.1% advantage for Intel.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap the same as the multi-core gap?

A: No. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the N5105 leads by 16.3% (478 versus 411), while in Geekbench single-core the lead is 13.7% (516 versus 454). The margins vary by test.

Q: Does the Athlon X4 860K win any benchmark?

A: No. Across the seven recorded head-to-head tests, the N5105 wins all seven and the Athlon wins zero.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in average benchmark score?

A: The N5105 has an average benchmark score of 955, and the Athlon X4 860K has 943, a difference of roughly 1.3% in the database's aggregate metric.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The N5105 has a TDP of 10 W, while the Athlon X4 860K has a TDP of 95 W. That is a 85 W difference in thermal design power.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The N5105 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4, while the Athlon X4 860K supports DDR3.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The N5105 has 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Athlon also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but its base clock is 3.70 GHz and its boost clock is 4.00 GHz. TDP differs sharply: 10 W for the N5105 versus 95 W for the Athlon. Sockets are different: Intel BGA 1338 versus AMD Socket FM2+. The N5105 uses a 10 nm process, while the Athlon uses 28 nm. The N5105 reports a die size of 63.8 mm²; the Athlon reports 245 mm² and 2,411 million transistors. Memory support differs: the N5105 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4, the Athlon supports DDR3. Memory bandwidth is higher on the N5105 at 46.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. PCIe lane counts differ: the N5105 provides 8 Gen 3 lanes, the Athlon provides 16 Gen 3 lanes. The N5105 has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 24EU), while the Athlon has no integrated graphics. The N5105 has a locked multiplier; the Athlon has an unlocked multiplier. The N5105's part number is SRKGV, while the Athlon lists AD860KXBJABOXAD860KWOHLBOXAD860KXBJASBXAD860KXBI44JA. The Athlon has a release date of 2014-08-11, while the N5105 has no release date recorded.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are very different designs. The N5105 uses Intel's Tremont architecture, part of the Jasper Lake codename family, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The Athlon X4 860K uses AMD's Steamroller architecture, part of the Kaveri codename family, built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. Cache layouts diverge: the N5105 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.5 MB of shared L2 cache, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Athlon has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The N5105 targets the mobile segment, while the Athlon is a desktop part. Both are end-of-life, and both have ECC memory disabled. The N5105 includes integrated graphics, the Athlon does not. The N5105's smaller 10 nm process and compact die size of 63.8 mm² contrast with the Athlon's 28 nm process and 245 mm² die. The N5105 also supports higher memory bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, which aligns with its newer memory controller. The Athlon's unlocked multiplier marks it as an overclocking-oriented part, while the N5105's locked multiplier and low TDP point to an efficiency-first design.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Celeron N5105 wins in every recorded benchmark category. It leads in multi-core Cinebench R15 (341 versus 294), R20 (1422 versus 1225), and R23 (3388 versus 2918), all by roughly 16%. It also leads in single-core Cinebench R20 (200 versus 172) and R23 (478 versus 411), both by 16.3%. In Geekbench, the N5105 wins multi-core by 5.6% (1189 versus 1126) and single-core by 13.7% (516 versus 454). The N5105 is the better choice for any workload measured in this database: rendering, mixed productivity, and single-threaded tasks. Its lower TDP of 10 W also makes it the pick for power-constrained or fanless builds, and its integrated graphics remove the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The Athlon X4 860K wins no benchmarks, but it offers an unlocked multiplier for manual overclocking, a desktop socket with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (double the N5105's 8), and DDR3 support. For users with an existing FM2+ platform or a need for more PCIe lanes, the Athlon has a platform argument, but the recorded performance data gives every benchmark win to the Celeron N5105.