A8-4555M vs Athlon II X2 270

AMD

A8-4555M

4 Cores4 Thrd19 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2012
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II X2 270

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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A8-4555M vs Athlon II X2 270 Performance Spectrum

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.

A8-4555M vs Athlon II X2 270 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A8-4555M vs Athlon II X2 270: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A8-4555M

2012

Why buy it

  • +0.6% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 19W instead of 65W, a 46W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 7600G, while Athlon II X2 270 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 270.

Athlon II X2 270

2011

Why buy it

  • Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike A8-4555M.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,333 vs 1,341).
  • Launch MSRP is still $72 MSRP, while A8-4555M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 242.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 19W.
  • No integrated graphics, while A8-4555M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A8-4555M better than Athlon II X2 270?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X2 270 is ahead with a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A8-4555M pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A8-4555M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A8-4555M is still the much better call for a fresh build. A8-4555M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $72 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark. Athlon II X2 270 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (18.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A8-4555M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-4555M vs Athlon II X2 270 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A8-4555M

The A8-4555M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FP2. Thermal design power (TDP): 19 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,341 points. Launch price was $90.

AMD

Athlon II X2 270

The Athlon II X2 270 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,333 points. Launch price was $100.

Processing Power

The A8-4555M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X2 270 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A8-4555M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the A8-4555M versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270 — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 270 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The A8-4555M uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 270 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A8-4555M scores 1,341 against the Athlon II X2 270's 1,333 — a 0.6% lead for the A8-4555M. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureA8-4555MAthlon II X2 270
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.4 GHz
3.4 GHz+42%
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
3.4 GHz+112%
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
4 MB (total)+300%
1 MB
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Trinity (2012−2013)
Regor (2009−2013)
PassMark
1,341
1,333
Geekbench 6 Single
392
Geekbench 6 Multi
686
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A8-4555M uses the FP2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 270 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A8-4555M) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 270) — the A8-4555M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FP2 (A8-4555M) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 270).

FeatureA8-4555MAthlon II X2 270
Socket
FP2
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
1333
1333
Max RAM Capacity
16
16
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
0
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The A8-4555M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7600G), while the Athlon II X2 270 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-4555M rivals Core i3-2367M; Athlon II X2 270 rivals Pentium E6700.

FeatureA8-4555MAthlon II X2 270
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 7600G
None
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
true