Core i5-520UM vs Athlon II X3 455
Core i5-520UM
Athlon II X3 455
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 i5-520UM is positioned at rank 130 and the Athlon II X3 455 is on rank 750, so the Core i5-520UM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-520UM
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 455
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-520UM | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 i5-520UM and Athlon II X3 455
Core i5-520UM
The Core i5-520UM 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 1.07 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,943 points. Launch price was $241.
Athlon II X3 455
The Athlon II X3 455 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 December 2010 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 1,938 points. Launch price was $88.
Processing Power
The Core i5-520UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 455 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 455 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Core i5-520UM versus 3.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 455 — a 55.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 455 (base: 1.07 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-520UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 455 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-520UM scores 1,943 against the Athlon II X3 455's 1,938 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-520UM. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-520UM vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 455.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 3.3 GHz+76% |
| Base Clock | 1.07 GHz | 3.3 GHz+208% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,943 | 1,938 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-520UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 455 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Core i5-520UM versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 455 — the Core i5-520UM supports 198.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 455 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-520UM) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 455) — the Core i5-520UM offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57,QS57 (Core i5-520UM) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 455).
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 800+26567% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 32 GB+419430300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-520UM) / not specified (Athlon II X3 455). The Core i5-520UM includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)), while the Athlon II X3 455 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-520UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Core i5-520UM | Athlon II X3 455 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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