Athlon II X3 435 vs Core i3-550
Athlon II X3 435
Core i3-550
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 X3 435 is positioned at rank 817 and the Core i3-550 is on rank 965, so the Athlon II X3 435 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 X3 435
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+198%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 X3 435 and Core i3-550
Athlon II X3 435
The Athlon II X3 435 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,645 points. Launch price was $160.
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 435 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i3-550 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 435 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X3 435 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X3 435 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-550 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 435 scores 1,645 against the Core i3-550's 1,632 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 435. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 435 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.2 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.2 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,645 | 1,632 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,320 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 437 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 899 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 435 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-550 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3 (Athlon II X3 435) and H55,H57,P55,Q57 (Core i3-550).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 435) vs Yes (Core i3-550). The Core i3-550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 435 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X3 435 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Core i3-550 debuted at $138. At current prices ($15 vs $5), the Core i3-550 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 435 delivers 109.7 pts/$ vs 326.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-550 — making the Core i3-550 the 99.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 435 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-37% | $138 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $5-67% |
| Performance per Dollar | 109.7 | 326.4+198% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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