Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i5-8200Y

Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i5-8200Y Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 635

4 / 4

2,248

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-8200Y

2 / 4

2,245

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 635 vs Core i5-8200Y 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 635 vs Core i5-8200Y: 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 635

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-8200Y.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (180 vs 858).
❌Launch MSRP is still $400 MSRP, while Core i5-8200Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1800% higher power demand at 95W vs 5W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8200Y can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-8200Y

2018

Why buy it

✅+376.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 5W instead of 95W, a 90W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 615, while Athlon II X4 635 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,245 vs 2,248).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 635.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8200Y better than Athlon II X4 635?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-8200Y is ahead with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 635 pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 635 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i5-8200Y is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i5-8200Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 635 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (5.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-8200Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i5-8200Y Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 635

The Athlon II X4 635 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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: 2,248 points. Launch price was $70.

Core i5-8200Y

The Core i5-8200Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,245 points. Launch price was $291.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 635 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-8200Y offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 635 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X4 635 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8200Y — a 29.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-8200Y (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Athlon II X4 635 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-8200Y uses Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 635 scores 2,248 against the Core i5-8200Y's 2,245 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X4 635. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 180 vs 858, a 130.6% lead for the Core i5-8200Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 635 vs 4 MB on the Core i5-8200Y.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i5-8200Y
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz	3.9 GHz+34%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+123%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512 kB
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021)
PassMark	2,248	2,245
Cinebench R23 Multi	658	—
Geekbench 6 Single	180	858+377%
Geekbench 6 Multi	550	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 635 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-8200Y uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066 on the Athlon II X4 635 versus LPDDR3-1866 on the Core i5-8200Y — the Core i5-8200Y supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 635) vs 10 (Core i5-8200Y) — the Athlon II X4 635 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 770,785G,790FX,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X4 635) and Amber Lake-Y (Core i5-8200Y).

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i5-8200Y
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1515
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066	LPDDR3-1866+40%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+60%	10

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 635 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 635) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8200Y). The Core i5-8200Y includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 615), while the Athlon II X4 635 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 635 targets Budget, Core i5-8200Y targets Tablet/2-in-1. Direct competitor: Core i5-8200Y rivals Athlon 300U.