Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-655K

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-655K Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620

4 / 4

2,026

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-655K

2 / 4

2,017

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 i5-655K 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.

Athlon II X4 620 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 620

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $117 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $216 MSRP).
✅Delivers 119.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.5 vs 9.3 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $216 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌30.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 73W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-655K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-655K

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 73W instead of 95W, a 22W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Westmere), while Athlon II X4 620 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 620 across 36 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,017 vs 2,026).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.3 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($216 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 620 better than Core i5-655K?

Yes. Athlon II X4 620 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 620 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.7% more average FPS across 36 shared CPU game tests.

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 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 620 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 620 comes in $117 cheaper on MSRP at $99 MSRP versus $216 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 119.2% better value on MSRP (20.5 vs 9.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-655K makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 620 vs Core i5-655K 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 i5-655K

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 620 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-655K 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 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620 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 620 scores 2,026 against the Core i5-655K's 2,017 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 620. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-655K
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.46 GHz+33%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.2 GHz+23%
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	2,026	2,017
Geekbench 6 Single	—	560
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,250

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620 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. 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 i5-655K) — the Core i5-655K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620) and H55,H57,P55 (Core i5-655K).

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-655K
Socket	AM3	LGA1156
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

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 620) / VT-x (Core i5-655K). The Core i5-655K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X4 620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-655K targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-655K
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 620 was priced at $99, while the Core i5-655K came in at $216. On launch pricing ($99 vs $216), Athlon II X4 620 was $117 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 9.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-655K — making the Athlon II X4 620 the 74.7% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620	Core i5-655K
MSRP	$99-54%	$216
Performance per Dollar	20.5+120%	9.3
Release Date	2009	2010

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