Athlon II X4 615e vs Core i5-655K
Athlon II X4 615e
Core i5-655K
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 615e is positioned at rank 983 and the Core i5-655K is on rank 1004, so the Athlon II X4 615e 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 615e
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-655K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+83%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
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 615e and Core i5-655K
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 | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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
The Athlon II X4 615e launched at $186 MSRP, while the Core i5-655K debuted at $216. At current prices ($30 vs $55), the Athlon II X4 615e is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 67.3 pts/$ vs 36.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-655K — making the Athlon II X4 615e the 58.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 615e | Core i5-655K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $186-14% | $216 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30-45% | $55 |
| Performance per Dollar | 67.3+83% | 36.7 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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