Core i5-560M vs Athlon 5370
Core i5-560M
Athlon 5370
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 i5-560M is positioned at rank 1121 and the Athlon 5370 is on rank 545, so the Athlon 5370 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-560M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 5370
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1410%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($225) | ✅ More affordable ($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 i5-560M and Athlon 5370
Core i5-560M
The Core i5-560M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,894 points. Launch price was $225.
Athlon 5370
The Athlon 5370 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,906 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-560M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon 5370 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon 5370 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-560M versus 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 5370 — a 37% clock advantage for the Core i5-560M (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-560M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon 5370 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-560M scores 1,894 against the Athlon 5370's 1,906 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon 5370. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 450 vs 247, a 58.2% lead for the Core i5-560M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 950 vs 636 (39.6% advantage for the Core i5-560M).
| Feature | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+45% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+21% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Kabini (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,894 | 1,906 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450+82% | 247 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 950+49% | 636 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-560M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 5370 uses AM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon 5370 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-560M) vs 1 (Athlon 5370). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-560M) vs 4 (Athlon 5370) — the Core i5-560M offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,PM55,QM57 (Core i5-560M) and AM1,A50M (Athlon 5370).
| Feature | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-560M) vs AMD-V (Athlon 5370). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) (Core i5-560M) and Radeon R3 (Athlon 5370) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-560M targets Laptop, Athlon 5370 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-560M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Laptop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-560M launched at $225 MSRP, while the Athlon 5370 debuted at $55.
| Feature | Core i5-560M | Athlon 5370 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $225 | $55-76% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2014 |
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