Athlon II X2 280 vs A8-4555M
Athlon II X2 280
A8-4555M
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 280 is positioned at rank 638 and the A8-4555M is on rank 826, so the Athlon II X2 280 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 280
Performance Per Dollar A8-4555M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | A8-4555M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 280 | A8-4555M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 II X2 280 and A8-4555M
Athlon II X2 280
The Athlon II X2 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 1,355 points. Launch price was $100.
A8-4555M
The A8-4555M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FP2. Thermal design power (TDP): 19 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,341 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 280 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-4555M offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-4555M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 280 versus 2.4 GHz on the A8-4555M — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 280 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 280 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-4555M uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 280 scores 1,355 against the A8-4555M's 1,341 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II X2 280. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | A8-4555M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+50% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+125% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 4 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,355+1% | 1,341 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 290 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 280 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-4555M uses FP2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 280 versus 1333 on the A8-4555M — the A8-4555M supports 199.1% 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 II X2 280) vs 16 (A8-4555M) — the A8-4555M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 870,880G,890GX,890FX,970,990X,990FX (Athlon II X2 280) and FP2 (A8-4555M).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | A8-4555M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FP2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 280) vs true (A8-4555M). The A8-4555M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7600G), while the Athlon II X2 280 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 280 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 280 rivals Pentium E6700; A8-4555M rivals Core i3-2367M.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 280 | A8-4555M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 7600G |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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