Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-2435M

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-2435M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620

4 / 4

2,026

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-2435M

2 / 4

2,035

+0.4%

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 i5-2435M 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 i5-2435M: 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

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,026 vs 2,035).
❌Launch MSRP is still $99 MSRP, while Core i5-2435M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-2435M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-2435M

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

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-2435M better than Athlon II X4 620?

Yes. Core i5-2435M 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, 0.4% 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 i5-2435M 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 i5-2435M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-2435M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-2435M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-2435M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) 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 620 vs Core i5-2435M 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 i5-2435M

The Core i5-2435M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 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: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,035 points. Launch price was $225.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 620 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2435M 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 i5-2435M — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-2435M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2435M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 620 scores 2,026 against the Core i5-2435M's 2,035 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-2435M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2435M.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2435M
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	2,035
Geekbench 6 Single	—	525
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,025

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2435M uses BGA1023 (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 i5-2435M) — the Core i5-2435M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620) and HM65,HM67 (Core i5-2435M).

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-2435M
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 620) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2435M). The Core i5-2435M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon II X4 620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2435M targets Legacy Laptop.