Core i5-655K vs Athlon II X4 620
Core i5-655K
Athlon II X4 620
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 i5-655K is positioned at rank 1004 and the Athlon II X4 620 is on rank 789, so the Athlon II X4 620 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-655K
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 620
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+268%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ 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 i5-655K and Athlon II X4 620
Core i5-655K
The Core i5-655K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 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: 2,017 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X4 620
The Athlon II X4 620 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 2,026 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
The Core i5-655K packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 620 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 620 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 620 — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-655K uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 620 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-655K scores 2,017 against the Athlon II X4 620's 2,026 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 620. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 620.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+33% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+23% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,017 | 2,026 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 560 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-655K uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 620 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 620 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-655K) vs 0 (Athlon II X4 620) — the Core i5-655K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H55,H57,P55 (Core i5-655K) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X4 620).
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i5-655K) / not specified (Athlon II X4 620). The Core i5-655K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X4 620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-655K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-655K launched at $216 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 620 debuted at $99. At current prices ($55 vs $15), the Athlon II X4 620 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-655K delivers 36.7 pts/$ vs 135.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 620 — making the Athlon II X4 620 the 114.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Athlon II X4 620 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $216 | $99-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $55 | $15-73% |
| Performance per Dollar | 36.7 | 135.1+268% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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