Athlon 64 FX-55 vs E1-1500

AMD

Athlon 64 FX-55

1 Cores1 Thrd104 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2004
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VS
AMD

E1-1500

2 Cores2 Thrd18 WWMax: 1.48 GHz2013
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Athlon 64 FX-55 vs E1-1500 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.

Athlon 64 FX-55 vs E1-1500 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.

Athlon 64 FX-55 vs E1-1500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 FX-55

2004

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 0.8 vs 11.0 PassMark/$ ($827 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
  • 477.8% higher power demand at 104W vs 18W.

E1-1500

2013

Why buy it

  • Costs $767 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $827 MSRP).
  • Delivers 1218.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 11.0 vs 0.8 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $827 MSRP).
  • Draws 18W instead of 104W, a 86W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 FX-55 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (660 vs 690).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 FX-55 better than E1-1500?
Yes. Athlon 64 FX-55 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 4.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 FX-55 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 FX-55 is the stronger fit. You are getting 4.5% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon 64 FX-55 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Athlon 64 FX-55 comes in 1278.3% more expensive on MSRP at $827 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. E1-1500 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 6.4% in the shared gaming data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
E1-1500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2004). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 FX-55 vs E1-1500 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

AMD

E1-1500

The E1-1500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Zacate (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.48 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 660 points. Launch price was $50.

Processing Power

The Athlon 64 FX-55 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the E1-1500 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the E1-1500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-55 versus 1.48 GHz on the E1-1500 — a 54.9% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-55. The Athlon 64 FX-55 uses the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the E1-1500 uses Zacate (2011−2013) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-55 scores 690 against the E1-1500's 660 — a 4.4% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-55. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-55E1-1500
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
2 / 2+100%
Boost Clock
2.6 GHz+76%
1.48 GHz
Base Clock
2.6 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
512K (per core)+51100%
Process
130 nm
40 nm-69%
Architecture
Clawhammer (2001−2005)
Zacate (2011−2013)
PassMark
690+5%
660
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 FX-55 uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the E1-1500 uses FT1 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-55E1-1500
Socket
939
FT1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed
DDR1-400
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 FX-55 was priced at $827, while the E1-1500 came in at $60. On launch pricing ($827 vs $60), E1-1500 was $767 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 FX-55 delivers 0.8 pts/$ vs 11.0 pts/$ for the E1-1500 — making the E1-1500 the 171.8% better value option.

FeatureAthlon 64 FX-55E1-1500
MSRP
$827
$60-93%
Performance per Dollar
0.8
11.0+1275%
Release Date
2004
2013

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