Athlon II X2 265 vs Core i5-460M
Athlon II X2 265
Core i5-460M
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 II X2 265 is positioned at rank 884 and the Core i5-460M is on rank 7, so the Core i5-460M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 265
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-460M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+762%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) |
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 II X2 265 and Core i5-460M
Athlon II X2 265
The Athlon II X2 265 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,324 points. Launch price was $83.
Core i5-460M
The Core i5-460M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,321 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 265 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-460M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 265 versus 2.8 GHz on the Core i5-460M — a 16.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 265 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Athlon II X2 265 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-460M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 265 scores 1,324 against the Core i5-460M's 1,321 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 265. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 275 vs 343, a 22% lead for the Core i5-460M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 265 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-460M.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+18% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+30% | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,324 | 1,321 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 275 | 343+25% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 520 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 265 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-460M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 265 versus 1066 on the Core i5-460M — the Core i5-460M supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 265 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 265) vs 16 (Core i5-460M) — the Core i5-460M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX,870,880G,890GX,890FX (Athlon II X2 265) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-460M).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+209715100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 265) vs true (Core i5-460M). The Core i5-460M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon II X2 265 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 265 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 265 rivals Pentium E6700; Core i5-460M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 265 launched at $83 MSRP, while the Core i5-460M debuted at $80. At current prices ($15 vs $129), the Athlon II X2 265 is $114 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 265 delivers 88.3 pts/$ vs 10.2 pts/$ for the Core i5-460M — making the Athlon II X2 265 the 158.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 265 | Core i5-460M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $83 | $80-4% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-88% | $129 |
| Performance per Dollar | 88.3+766% | 10.2 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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