Athlon II X4 615e
Core i5-655K
Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-655K Performance Spectrum
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 i5-655K 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-655K: 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
2010Why buy it
- ✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($186 MSRP vs $216 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 16.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 9.3 PassMark/$ ($186 MSRP vs $216 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 45W instead of 73W, a 28W reduction.
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-655K.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (331 vs 560).
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,161 vs 1,250).
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-655K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Core i5-655K
2010Why buy it
- ✅+69.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Westmere), while Athlon II X4 615e needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.3 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($216 MSRP vs $186 MSRP).
- ❌62.2% higher power demand at 73W vs 45W.
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.
Quick Answers
So, is Core i5-655K better than Athlon II X4 615e?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-655K 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 i5-655K
The Core i5-655K 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 3.46 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: 2,017 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-655K 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 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K — a 32.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-655K uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core i5-655K's 2,017 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 615e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 331 vs 560, a 51.4% lead for the Core i5-655K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,161 vs 1,250 (7.4% advantage for the Core i5-655K). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.46 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz+28% |
| 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 | Propus (2009−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,018 | 2,017 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,161 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 331 | 560+69% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,161 | 1,250+8% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-655K 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: AMD 870,AMD 880G,AMD 890FX,AMD 990FX (Athlon II X4 615e) and H55,H57,P55 (Core i5-655K).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) vs VT-x (Core i5-655K). The Core i5-655K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X4 615e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming, Core i5-655K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Gaming | Desktop |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Athlon II X4 615e was priced at $186, while the Core i5-655K came in at $216. On launch pricing ($186 vs $216), Athlon II X4 615e was $30 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 10.8 pts/$ vs 9.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-655K — making the Athlon II X4 615e the 15% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $186-14% | $216 |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.8+16% | 9.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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