Athlon II X4 638 vs Core i5-650
Athlon II X4 638
Core i5-650
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 638 is positioned at rank 1040 and the Core i5-650 is on rank 946, so the Core i5-650 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-650
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($22) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1169%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($22) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 638 and Core i5-650
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-650
The Core i5-650 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 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: 2,254 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 638 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-650 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-650 — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-650 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-650 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Core i5-650's 2,254 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-650.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.46 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,260 | 2,254 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-650 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 638 launched at $300 MSRP, while the Core i5-650 debuted at $176. At current prices ($280 vs $22), the Core i5-650 is $258 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 638 delivers 8.1 pts/$ vs 102.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-650 — making the Core i5-650 the 170.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $176-41% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $280 | $22-92% |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.1 | 102.5+1165% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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