Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-2430M

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-2430M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620

4 / 4

2,026

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-2430M

2 / 4

2,015

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 620 vs Core i5-2430M 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 620 vs Core i5-2430M: 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 620

2009

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $126 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).
✅Delivers 128.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.5 vs 9.0 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $225 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-2430M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-2430M

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 3000, while Athlon II X4 620 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,015 vs 2,026).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.0 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($225 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-2430M better than Athlon II X4 620?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-2430M is ahead with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 27 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 620 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 620 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-2430M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-2430M comes in 127.3% more expensive on MSRP at $225 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 27 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 128.5% better value on paper (20.5 vs 9.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-2430M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-2430M Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 620

The Athlon II X4 620 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,026 points. Launch price was $65.

Core i5-2430M

The Core i5-2430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,015 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 620 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2430M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 620 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620 versus 3 GHz on the Core i5-2430M — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-2430M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2430M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 620 scores 2,026 against the Core i5-2430M's 2,015 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X4 620. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2430M.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2430M
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+8%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,026	2,015

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2430M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 620 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X4 620) vs 16 (Core i5-2430M) — the Core i5-2430M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2430M).

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2430M
Socket	AM3	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 620) / true (Core i5-2430M). The Core i5-2430M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II X4 620 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2430M rivals AMD A8-3500M.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2430M
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 620 was priced at $99, while the Core i5-2430M came in at $225. On launch pricing ($99 vs $225), Athlon II X4 620 was $126 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 9.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-2430M — making the Athlon II X4 620 the 78.2% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2430M
MSRP	$99-56%	$225
Performance per Dollar	20.5+128%	9.0
Release Date	2009	2011

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