Athlon II X2 245 vs Phenom II X2 550

Athlon II X2 245 vs Phenom II X2 550 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 245

2 / 2

1,134

0.0%

Mobile Athlon 64 3700+

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Phenom II X2 550

2 / 2

1,142

+0.7%

Mobile Athlon 64 3700+

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 245 vs Phenom II X2 550 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 II X2 245 vs Phenom II X2 550: 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 245

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Phenom II X2 550.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,134 vs 1,142).
❌Launch MSRP is still $66 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 550 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X2 550

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 245.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X2 550 better than Athlon II X2 245?

Yes. Phenom II X2 550 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better 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, Phenom II X2 550 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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, Phenom II X2 550 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Phenom II X2 550 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X2 550 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $66 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 245 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (17.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Phenom II X2 550 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 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 245 vs Phenom II X2 550 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 245

The Athlon II X2 245 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,134 points. Launch price was $35.

Phenom II X2 550

The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 245 and Phenom II X2 550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245 versus 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Athlon II X2 245 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 245 scores 1,134 against the Phenom II X2 550's 1,142 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X2 550. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 245 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550.

Feature	Athlon II X2 245	Phenom II X2 550
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz	3.1 GHz+7%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.1 GHz+7%
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Callisto (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,134	1,142