
Athlon II X4 605e vs Core i5-3439Y

Athlon II X4 605e

Core i5-3439Y
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 X4 605e is positioned at rank 923 and the Core i5-3439Y is on rank 1077, so the Athlon II X4 605e 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 X4 605e
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3439Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 605e | Core i5-3439Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 605e | Core i5-3439Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 X4 605e and Core i5-3439Y

Athlon II X4 605e
The Athlon II X4 605e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,964 points. Launch price was $102.

Core i5-3439Y
The Core i5-3439Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,957 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 605e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-3439Y offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 605e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 605e versus 2.3 GHz on the Core i5-3439Y — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.3 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 605e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-3439Y uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 605e scores 1,964 against the Core i5-3439Y's 1,957 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 605e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 472, a 44.6% lead for the Core i5-3439Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,069 vs 966 (10.1% advantage for the Athlon II X4 605e). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 605e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3439Y.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Core i5-3439Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+53% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,964 | 1,957 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,140 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | 472+57% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,069+11% | 966 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 605e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-3439Y uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X4 605e) and 7-series (Core i5-3439Y).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Core i5-3439Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 605e) vs VT-x (Core i5-3439Y). The Core i5-3439Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon II X4 605e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 605e targets Desktop, Core i5-3439Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-3439Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 605e | Core i5-3439Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Desktop | Budget |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
















