CPU
GPU
Core i5-2557M
Athlon X2 QL-65
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 i5-2557M is positioned at rank 36 and the Athlon X2 QL-65 is on rank 1056, so the Core i5-2557M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2557M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-65
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2557M | Athlon X2 QL-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2557M | Athlon X2 QL-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 Core i5-2557M and Athlon X2 QL-65
Core i5-2557M
The Core i5-2557M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,618 points. Launch price was $250.
Athlon X2 QL-65
The Athlon X2 QL-65 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,630 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-2557M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon X2 QL-65's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-2557M versus 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-65 — a 25% clock advantage for the Core i5-2557M. The Core i5-2557M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon X2 QL-65 uses Lion (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2557M scores 1,618 against the Athlon X2 QL-65's 1,630 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-65. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2557M vs 0 kB on the Athlon X2 QL-65.
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | Athlon X2 QL-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Lion (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,618 | 1,630 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 521 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 882 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2557M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon X2 QL-65 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2557M versus DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-65 — the Core i5-2557M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-2557M) vs 0 (Athlon X2 QL-65) — the Core i5-2557M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,QS67 (Core i5-2557M) and AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-65).
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | Athlon X2 QL-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | S1g2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2557M) / not specified (Athlon X2 QL-65). The Core i5-2557M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Athlon X2 QL-65 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2557M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-2557M rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i5-2557M | Athlon X2 QL-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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