Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i7-3555LE

Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i7-3555LE Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 635

4 / 4

2,248

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-3555LE

2 / 4

2,238

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 i7-3555LE 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 i7-3555LE: 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

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-3555LE.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.6 vs 7.5 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
❌280% higher power demand at 95W vs 25W.

Core i7-3555LE

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 7.5 vs 5.6 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 95W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,238 vs 2,248).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 635.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-3555LE better than Athlon II X4 635?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-3555LE is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 635 pulls ahead with 0.4% 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 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i7-3555LE is the better buy right now. Core i7-3555LE comes in $100 cheaper on MSRP at $300 MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon II X4 635 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.4% better PassMark. It is also 32.7% better value on MSRP (7.5 vs 5.6 PassMark/$), 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 i7-3555LE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 635 vs Core i7-3555LE 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 i7-3555LE

The Core i7-3555LE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,238 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 635 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3555LE 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 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-3555LE — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3555LE (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 635 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-3555LE uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 635 scores 2,248 against the Core i7-3555LE's 2,238 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 635. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 635 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-3555LE.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i7-3555LE
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz	3.2 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+16%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,248	2,238
Cinebench R23 Multi	658	—
Geekbench 6 Single	180	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	550	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 635 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3555LE uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i7-3555LE
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 635) / not specified (Core i7-3555LE). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 635 targets Budget.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i7-3555LE
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Budget	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X4 635 was priced at $400, while the Core i7-3555LE came in at $300. On launch pricing ($400 vs $300), Core i7-3555LE was $100 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 635 delivers 5.6 pts/$ vs 7.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-3555LE — making the Core i7-3555LE the 28.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Core i7-3555LE
MSRP	$400	$300-25%
Performance per Dollar	5.6	7.5+34%
Release Date	2010	2012

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