Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i5-520UM

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i5-520UM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X3 455

3 / 3

1,938

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-520UM

2 / 4

1,943

+0.3%

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 X3 455 vs Core i5-520UM 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 X3 455 vs Core i5-520UM: 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 X3 455

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,938 vs 1,943).
❌Launch MSRP is still $88 MSRP, while Core i5-520UM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌427.8% higher power demand at 95W vs 18W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-520UM can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-520UM

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 18W instead of 95W, a 77W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake), while Athlon II X3 455 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-520UM better than Athlon II X3 455?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X3 455 is ahead with a 2.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-520UM pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-520UM is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-520UM is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-520UM comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $88 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. Athlon II X3 455 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (22.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i5-520UM is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon II X3 455 vs Core i5-520UM Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X3 455

The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.

Core i5-520UM

The Core i5-520UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.07 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,943 points. Launch price was $241.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X3 455 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core i5-520UM offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X3 455 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 versus 1.87 GHz on the Core i5-520UM — a 55.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.07 GHz). The Athlon II X3 455 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-520UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 455 scores 1,938 against the Core i5-520UM's 1,943 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-520UM. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-520UM.

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i5-520UM
Cores / Threads	3 / 3+50%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+76%	1.87 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+208%	1.07 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512 kB
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Rana (2009−2011)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,938	1,943

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X3 455 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-520UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 455 versus 800 on the Core i5-520UM — the Athlon II X3 455 supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 455 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X3 455) vs 16 (Core i5-520UM) — the Core i5-520UM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 455) and HM55,HM57,QM57,QS57 (Core i5-520UM).

Feature	Athlon II X3 455	Core i5-520UM
Socket	AM3	BGA1288
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+67%	800
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X3 455) / true (Core i5-520UM). The Core i5-520UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon II X3 455 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.