Celeron B720 vs Athlon 64 FX-55
Celeron B720
Athlon 64 FX-55
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 Celeron B720 is positioned at rank 1091 and the Athlon 64 FX-55 is on rank 1134, so the Celeron B720 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B720
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-55
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+382%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 Celeron B720 and Athlon 64 FX-55
Celeron B720
The Celeron B720 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 665 points. Launch price was $70.
Athlon 64 FX-55
The Athlon 64 FX-55 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 104 Watt. Memory support: DDR1 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 690 points. Launch price was $180.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron B720 and Athlon 64 FX-55 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Celeron B720 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-55 — a 41.9% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-55 (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Celeron B720 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-55 uses Clawhammer (2001−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron B720 scores 665 against the Athlon 64 FX-55's 690 — a 3.7% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-55. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (total) on the Celeron B720 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-55.
| Feature | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.6 GHz+53% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.6 GHz+53% |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-75% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Clawhammer (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 665 | 690+4% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron B720 uses the G2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 FX-55 uses 939 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Celeron B720 versus DDR1-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-55 — the Celeron B720 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron B720 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron B720) vs 0 (Athlon 64 FX-55) — the Celeron B720 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QM77 (Celeron B720) and nForce3,nForce4,Xpress 200 (Athlon 64 FX-55).
| Feature | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G2 | 939 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+200% | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+300% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron B720) / not specified (Athlon 64 FX-55). The Celeron B720 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon 64 FX-55 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B720 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron B720 rivals Pentium 967.
| Feature | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron B720 launched at $70 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 FX-55 debuted at $827. At current prices ($10 vs $50), the Celeron B720 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron B720 delivers 66.5 pts/$ vs 13.8 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 FX-55 — making the Celeron B720 the 131.3% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron B720 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $70-92% | $827 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-80% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 66.5+382% | 13.8 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2004 |
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