CPU
GPU
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
A8-3550MX
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 X2 5600+ is positioned at rank 1088 and the A8-3550MX is on rank 732, so the A8-3550MX 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 X2 5600+
Performance Per Dollar A8-3550MX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X2 5600+ and A8-3550MX
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,665 points. Launch price was $149.
A8-3550MX
The A8-3550MX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3550MX offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3550MX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus 2.7 GHz on the A8-3550MX — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the A8-3550MX uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ scores 1,665 against the A8-3550MX's 1,687 — a 1.3% lead for the A8-3550MX. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+7% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 90 nm | 32 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,665 | 1,687+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 5600+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A8-3550MX uses FS1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ versus DDR3-1600 on the A8-3550MX — the A8-3550MX supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) vs 20 (A8-3550MX) — the A8-3550MX offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | FS1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5600+) / AMD-V (A8-3550MX). The A8-3550MX includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Athlon 64 X2 5600+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3550MX targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: A8-3550MX rivals Core i5-2540M.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 5600+ | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6620G |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | High Performance Laptop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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