
Athlon 64 FX-55 vs Athlon 64 FX-57

Athlon 64 FX-55

Athlon 64 FX-57
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 Athlon 64 FX-55 is positioned at rank 1134 and the Athlon 64 FX-57 is on rank 1137, so the Athlon 64 FX-55 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-55
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-57
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-55 | Athlon 64 FX-57 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (San Diego (2001−2005) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-55 | Athlon 64 FX-57 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+283%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 Athlon 64 FX-55 and Athlon 64 FX-57

Athlon 64 FX-55
The Athlon 64 FX-55 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 104 Watt. Memory support: DDR1 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 690 points. Launch price was $180.

Athlon 64 FX-57
The Athlon 64 FX-57 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the San Diego (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 104 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 720 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 FX-55 and Athlon 64 FX-57 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-55 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-57 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-57. The Athlon 64 FX-55 uses the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-57 uses San Diego (2001−2005) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-55 scores 690 against the Athlon 64 FX-57's 720 — a 4.3% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-57. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-55 | Athlon 64 FX-57 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 130 nm | 90 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Clawhammer (2001−2005) | San Diego (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 690 | 720+4% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the 939 socket with PCIe 1.1. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR1-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-55 versus DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-57 — the Athlon 64 FX-55 supports -201% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: nForce3,nForce4,Xpress 200 (Athlon 64 FX-55) and AMD 939 (Athlon 64 FX-57).
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-55 | Athlon 64 FX-57 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | 939 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR1-400 | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 FX-55 launched at $827 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 FX-57 debuted at $1031. At current prices ($50 vs $200), the Athlon 64 FX-55 is $150 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 FX-55 delivers 13.8 pts/$ vs 3.6 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 FX-57 — making the Athlon 64 FX-55 the 117.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-55 | Athlon 64 FX-57 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $827-20% | $1031 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-75% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.8+283% | 3.6 |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2005 |
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