Athlon II X4 645 vs Core i5-661
Athlon II X4 645
Core i5-661
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 645 is positioned at rank 819 and the Core i5-661 is on rank 959, so the Athlon II X4 645 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 645
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 645 and Core i5-661
Athlon II X4 645
The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 645 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-661 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 645 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 — a 14.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Athlon II X4 645 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-661 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 645 scores 2,375 against the Core i5-661's 2,387 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-661. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.33 GHz+7% |
| 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 | 2,375 | 2,387 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,374 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 399 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,374 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 645 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-661 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Athlon II X4 645) / not specified (Core i5-661). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 645 launched at $126 MSRP, while the Core i5-661 debuted at $196. At current prices ($20 vs $40), the Athlon II X4 645 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 645 delivers 118.8 pts/$ vs 59.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-661 — making the Athlon II X4 645 the 66.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 645 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $126-36% | $196 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-50% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 118.8+99% | 59.7 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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