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Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 5600

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010
Similar parts
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Buy on Amazon
VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 5600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
Ryzen family
·······
Buy on Amazon

Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 5600 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 220
2 / 2
1,046
0.0%
brand logoAthlon 64 3500+
brand logoAthlon 64 FX-55
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 TK-42
brand logoAthlon X2 BE-2300
brand logoRyzen 5 PRO 5650G
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
Ryzen 5 5600
6 / 12
21,550
+1960.2%
brand logoRyzen 3 8440U
brand logoRyzen 5 4600HS
brand logoRyzen 7 PRO 5875U
brand logoRyzen 7 7445HS
brand logoRyzen 9 5900X
brand logoRyzen 9 9955HX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 9960X

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 II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 5600 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low161 FPS
medium130 FPS
high112 FPS
ultra93 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low508 FPS
medium419 FPS
high351 FPS
ultra310 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low539 FPS
medium526 FPS
high483 FPS
ultra414 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low539 FPS
medium539 FPS
high539 FPS
ultra539 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low300 FPS
medium279 FPS
high255 FPS
ultra230 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low267 FPS
medium205 FPS
high173 FPS
ultra150 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low163 FPS
medium143 FPS
high118 FPS
ultra98 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low351 FPS
medium299 FPS
high259 FPS
ultra220 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
Athlon II X2 220
low26 FPS
medium26 FPS
high26 FPS
ultra26 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low236 FPS
medium216 FPS
high181 FPS
ultra170 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 5600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X2 220

2010

Why buy it

  • ✅Costs $167 less on MSRP ($32 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 8,600).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.7 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($32 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

  • ✅Better for gaming: +729.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ✅Delivers 231.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).
  • ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌
    521.9% HIGHER MSRP
    $199 MSRPvs$32 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Athlon II X2 220?
Yes. Ryzen 5 5600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 729.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1620% better Geekbench multi-core, 1960.2% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 729.8% 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, Ryzen 5 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1620% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in 521.9% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 729.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 231.3% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 32.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 220 vs Ryzen 5 5600 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X2 220

The Athlon II X2 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.

AMD

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X2 220 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Athlon II X2 220 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 181.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 285 vs 2,052, a 151.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 8,600 (178% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 220 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureAthlon II X2 220Ryzen 5 5600
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock
2.8 GHz
4.4 GHz+57%
Base Clock
2.8 GHz
3.5 GHz+25%
L3 Cache
0 kB
32 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512 kB
512K (per core)
Process
45 nm
7 nm-84%
Architecture
Regor (2009−2013)
Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark
1,046
21,550+1960%
Cinebench R23 Multi
—
11,077
Geekbench 6 Single
285
2,052+620%
Geekbench 6 Multi
500
8,600+1620%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 220 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 — the Ryzen 5 5600 supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).

FeatureAthlon II X2 220Ryzen 5 5600
Socket
AM3
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed
1333
DDR4-3200+140%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
128 GB+700%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
0
24
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 220) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500.

FeatureAthlon II X2 220Ryzen 5 5600
Integrated GPU
No
No
IGPU Model
None
—
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
AMD-V
Target Use
—
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 220 was priced at $32, while the Ryzen 5 5600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($32 vs $199), Athlon II X2 220 was $167 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 220 delivers 32.7 pts/$ vs 108.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 107.3% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X2 220Ryzen 5 5600
MSRP
$32-84%
$199
Performance per Dollar
32.7
108.3+231%
Release Date
2010
2022
Search Athlon II X2 220 on AmazonSearch Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon

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