CPU
GPU
Core i3-550
Athlon II X3 435
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 Core i3-550 is positioned at rank 965 and the Athlon II X3 435 is on rank 817, so the Athlon II X3 435 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 435
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+198%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Core i3-550 and Athlon II X3 435
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 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 3.2 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: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Athlon II X3 435
The Athlon II X3 435 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 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: 1,645 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Core i3-550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 435 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 435 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X3 435 — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i3-550 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 435 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-550 scores 1,632 against the Athlon II X3 435's 1,645 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 435. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 435.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+10% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+10% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,632 | 1,645 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,320 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 437 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 899 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-550 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 435 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H55,H57,P55,Q57 (Core i3-550) and AM3 (Athlon II X3 435).
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-550) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 435). The Core i3-550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X3 435 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-550 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 435 debuted at $87. At current prices ($5 vs $15), the Core i3-550 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-550 delivers 326.4 pts/$ vs 109.7 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 435 — making the Core i3-550 the 99.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Athlon II X3 435 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $138 | $87-37% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-67% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 326.4+198% | 109.7 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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