Core i5-6500TE vs Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)

Core i5-6500TE vs Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) Performance Spectrum

Core i5-6500TE

4 / 4

4,917

0.0%

Celeron Dual-Core T1400

Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)

6 / 6

4,965

+1.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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.

Core i5-6500TE vs Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-6500TE vs Phenom II X6 1055T (95W): Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-6500TE

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,917 vs 4,965).
❌Launch MSRP is still $192 MSRP, while Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)

2010

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) better than Core i5-6500TE?

Yes. Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-6500TE only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (25.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-6500TE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-6500TE vs Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-6500TE

The Core i5-6500TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,917 points. Launch price was $192.

Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)

The Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thuban (2010) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,965 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-6500TE packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-6500TE versus 3.3 GHz on the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-6500TE uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) uses Thuban (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-6500TE scores 4,917 against the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)'s 4,965 — a 1% lead for the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W). Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-6500TE	Phenom II X6 1055T (95W)
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	2.8 GHz+22%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Thuban (2010)
PassMark	4,917	4,965

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-6500TE uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X6 1055T (95W) uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.