Athlon II X4 620e vs Core i5-2500T

Athlon II X4 620e vs Core i5-2500T Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 620e

4 / 4

2,906

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-2500T

4 / 4

2,929

+0.8%

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 620e vs Core i5-2500T 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 620e vs Core i5-2500T: 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 620e

2011

Why buy it

✅Costs $83 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 29.4 vs 16.1 PassMark/$ ($99 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,906 vs 2,929).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-2500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-2500T

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 2000, while Athlon II X4 620e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.1 vs 29.4 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-2500T better than Athlon II X4 620e?

Yes. Core i5-2500T is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% 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 i5-2500T is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.7% 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 i5-2500T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-2500T is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-2500T comes in 83.8% more expensive on MSRP at $182 MSRP versus $99 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 620e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 82.4% better value on paper (29.4 vs 16.1 PassMark/$), 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 i5-2500T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 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 620e vs Core i5-2500T Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 620e

The Athlon II X4 620e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. 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): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,906 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-2500T

The Core i5-2500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,929 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 620e and Core i5-2500T share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620e versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2500T — a 23.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500T (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Athlon II X4 620e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2500T uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 620e scores 2,906 against the Core i5-2500T's 2,929 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-2500T. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620e vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500T.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Core i5-2500T
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz	3.3 GHz+27%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+13%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	6144 kB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,906	2,929

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 620e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2500T uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X4 620e) vs 16 (Core i5-2500T) — the Core i5-2500T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Core i5-2500T
Socket	AM3	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 620e) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2500T). The Core i5-2500T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X4 620e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500T targets Desktop.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Core i5-2500T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 2000
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 620e was priced at $99, while the Core i5-2500T came in at $182. On launch pricing ($99 vs $182), Athlon II X4 620e was $83 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 620e delivers 29.4 pts/$ vs 16.1 pts/$ for the Core i5-2500T — making the Athlon II X4 620e the 58.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 620e	Core i5-2500T
MSRP	$99-46%	$182
Performance per Dollar	29.4+83%	16.1
Release Date	2011	2011

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