Athlon II X3 445 vs A8-5550M
Athlon II X3 445
A8-5550M
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 445 is positioned at rank 781 and the A8-5550M is on rank 692, so the A8-5550M 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 445
Performance Per Dollar A8-5550M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X3 445 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X3 445 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X3 445 and A8-5550M
Athlon II X3 445
The Athlon II X3 445 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 1,807 points. Launch price was $91.
A8-5550M
The A8-5550M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,811 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 445 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the A8-5550M offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-5550M has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X3 445 versus 3.1 GHz on the A8-5550M — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Athlon II X3 445 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-5550M uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 445 scores 1,807 against the A8-5550M's 1,811 — a 0.2% lead for the A8-5550M. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+48% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,807 | 1,811 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 445 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-5550M uses FS1r2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 445 versus 1600 on the A8-5550M — the A8-5550M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 445 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 445) vs 16 (A8-5550M) — the A8-5550M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 445) and FP2,FS1r2 (A8-5550M).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FS1r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+209715100% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 445) / true (A8-5550M). The A8-5550M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8510G / 8550G), while the Athlon II X3 445 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-5550M rivals Core i3-4000M.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 445 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8510G / 8550G |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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