Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i3-5005U

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i3-5005U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 615e

4 / 4

2,018

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-5005U

2 / 4

2,012

0.0%

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 X4 615e vs Core i3-5005U 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 X4 615e vs Core i3-5005U: 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 X4 615e

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 512W, a 467W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-5005U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (331 vs 617).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,161 vs 1,227).
❌Launch MSRP is still $186 MSRP, while Core i3-5005U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-5005U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-5005U

2015

Why buy it

✅+86.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 5500, while Athlon II X4 615e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌1037.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-5005U better than Athlon II X4 615e?

Yes. Core i3-5005U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 5.7% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-5005U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-5005U is the stronger fit. You are getting 5.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-5005U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-5005U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $186 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 615e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (10.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-5005U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i3-5005U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 615e

The Athlon II X4 615e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 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: 2,018 points. Launch price was $59.

Core i3-5005U

The Core i3-5005U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,012 points. Launch price was $275.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-5005U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 615e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II X4 615e versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-5005U — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 615e (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-5005U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core i3-5005U's 2,012 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 615e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 331 vs 617, a 60.3% lead for the Core i3-5005U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,161 vs 1,227 (5.5% advantage for the Core i3-5005U). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5005U.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core i3-5005U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz+25%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+25%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Broadwell-U (2015)
PassMark	2,018	2,012
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,161	—
Geekbench 6 Single	331	617+86%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,161	1,227+6%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-5005U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 615e versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5005U — the Core i3-5005U supports 20% 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: 16 (Athlon II X4 615e) vs 12 (Core i3-5005U) — the Athlon II X4 615e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and Intel Broadwell-U (Core i3-5005U).

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core i3-5005U
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) vs true (Core i3-5005U). The Core i3-5005U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 5500), while the Athlon II X4 615e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.