Core i5-650 vs Athlon II X4 638
Core i5-650
Athlon II X4 638
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 i5-650 is positioned at rank 946 and the Athlon II X4 638 is on rank 1040, so the Core i5-650 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-650
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-650 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($22) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-650 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1169%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($22) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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 i5-650 and Athlon II X4 638
Core i5-650
The Core i5-650 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,254 points. Launch price was $35.
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-650 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-650 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-650 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-650 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-650 scores 2,254 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-650 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638.
| Feature | Core i5-650 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+28% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,254 | 2,260 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-650 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-650 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-650 launched at $176 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 638 debuted at $300. At current prices ($22 vs $280), the Core i5-650 is $258 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-650 delivers 102.5 pts/$ vs 8.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 638 — making the Core i5-650 the 170.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-650 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $176-41% | $300 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $22-92% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 102.5+1165% | 8.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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