Athlon II X4 615e vs Core M-5Y51

Athlon II X4 615e vs Core M-5Y51 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 615e

4 / 4

2,018

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core M-5Y51

2 / 4

2,030

+0.6%

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 M-5Y51 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 M-5Y51: 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

✅Costs $95 less on MSRP ($186 MSRP vs $281 MSRP).
✅Delivers 50.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 7.2 PassMark/$ ($186 MSRP vs $281 MSRP).
✅Draws 45W instead of 512W, a 467W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core M-5Y51.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,018 vs 2,030).

Core M-5Y51

2014

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.2 vs 10.8 PassMark/$ ($281 MSRP vs $186 MSRP).
❌1037.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 45W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 615e.

Quick Answers

So, is Core M-5Y51 better than Athlon II X4 615e?

Yes. Core M-5Y51 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% better PassMark, 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 M-5Y51 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% 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 M-5Y51 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core M-5Y51 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core M-5Y51 comes in 51.1% more expensive on MSRP at $281 MSRP versus $186 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 615e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 50.2% better value on paper (10.8 vs 7.2 PassMark/$), 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 M-5Y51 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 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 M-5Y51 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 M-5Y51

The Core M-5Y51 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 October 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-Y (2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1234. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,030 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 615e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core M-5Y51 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 2.6 GHz on the Core M-5Y51 — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core M-5Y51 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 615e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core M-5Y51 uses Broadwell-Y (2014) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 615e scores 2,018 against the Core M-5Y51's 2,030 — a 0.6% lead for the Core M-5Y51. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 615e vs 4 MB (total) on the Core M-5Y51.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core M-5Y51
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz	2.6 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+127%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Broadwell-Y (2014)
PassMark	2,018	2,030
Cinebench R23 Multi	1,161	—
Geekbench 6 Single	331	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,161	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 615e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core M-5Y51 uses FCBGA1234 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core M-5Y51
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1234
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 615e) / not specified (Core M-5Y51). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 615e targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 615e rivals Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core M-5Y51
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 615e was priced at $186, while the Core M-5Y51 came in at $281. On launch pricing ($186 vs $281), Athlon II X4 615e was $95 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 615e delivers 10.8 pts/$ vs 7.2 pts/$ for the Core M-5Y51 — making the Athlon II X4 615e the 40.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 615e	Core M-5Y51
MSRP	$186-34%	$281
Performance per Dollar	10.8+50%	7.2
Release Date	2010	2014

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