Core i5-430M vs Phenom II X2 B55
Core i5-430M
Phenom II X2 B55
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 i5-430M is positioned at rank 12 and the Phenom II X2 B55 is on rank 492, so the Core i5-430M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-430M
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 B55
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Phenom II X2 B55 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Phenom II X2 B55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-430M and Phenom II X2 B55
Core i5-430M
The Core i5-430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $79.
Phenom II X2 B55
The Phenom II X2 B55 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $48.
Processing Power
The Core i5-430M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Phenom II X2 B55's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core i5-430M versus 3 GHz on the Phenom II X2 B55 — a 17% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 B55 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-430M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 B55 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-430M scores 1,210 against the Phenom II X2 B55's 1,222 — a 1% lead for the Phenom II X2 B55. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-430M vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 B55.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Phenom II X2 B55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 3 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Callisto (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,222 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 750 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-430M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 B55 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Phenom II X2 B55 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-430M) / not specified (Phenom II X2 B55). The Core i5-430M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Phenom II X2 B55 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-430M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-430M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Phenom II X2 B55 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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