Core i5-2500T vs Athlon II X4 620e
Core i5-2500T
Athlon II X4 620e
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 i5-2500T is positioned at rank 882 and the Athlon II X4 620e is on rank 605, so the Athlon II X4 620e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500T
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 620e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+34%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ 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 Core i5-2500T and Athlon II X4 620e
Core i5-2500T
The Core i5-2500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,929 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 620e
The Athlon II X4 620e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,906 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-2500T and Athlon II X4 620e share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2500T versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620e — a 23.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500T (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-2500T uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 620e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500T scores 2,929 against the Athlon II X4 620e's 2,906 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-2500T. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500T vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620e.
| Feature | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+27% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.6 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,929 | 2,906 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 620e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2500T) vs 0 (Athlon II X4 620e) — the Core i5-2500T offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2500T) / not specified (Athlon II X4 620e). The Core i5-2500T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X4 620e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500T targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2500T launched at $182 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 620e debuted at $99. At current prices ($30 vs $40), the Core i5-2500T is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2500T delivers 97.6 pts/$ vs 72.7 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 620e — making the Core i5-2500T the 29.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2500T | Athlon II X4 620e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $182 | $99-46% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30-25% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.6+34% | 72.7 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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