Core i5-655K vs Core i5-2430M

Core i5-655K

2 Cores4 Thrd73 WWMax: 3.46 GHz2010

Core i5-2430M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3 GHz2011

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-655K

2 / 4

2,017

+0.1%

2,015

0.0%

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 Core i5-2430M is on rank 1106, so the Core i5-655K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-655K

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

33374%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

31535%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

22897%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

6898%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

5464%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

4780%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

2738%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

2702%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

2460%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

2460%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

2432%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

2367%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

2334%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

2324%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

2303%

#1004

Core i5-655K

MSRP: $216|Avg: $55

100%

#1005

Celeron 450

MSRP: $53|Avg: $5

100%

#1006

Core 2 Duo E4600

MSRP: $133|Avg: $9.6

99%

#1008

Core i7-870S

MSRP: $300|Avg: $80

99%

#1009

Core 2 Duo E6540

MSRP: $163|Avg: $15

98%

#1010

Celeron 430

MSRP: $49|Avg: $10

98%

#1011

Athlon X2 BE-2300

MSRP: $100|Avg: $80

97%

#1012

Core i7-875K

MSRP: $353|Avg: $175

96%

#1013

Core i5-670

MSRP: $284|Avg: $100

96%

#1014

Core i5-680

MSRP: $294|Avg: $10

95%

#1015

Core 2 Duo E4300

MSRP: $113|Avg: $5

95%

#1017

Core 2 Duo E4500

MSRP: $133|Avg: $10

94%

#1019

Core 2 Duo E7600

MSRP: $133|Avg: $50

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2430M

#1094

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3275%

#1095

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3227%

#1096

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

2962%

#1097

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

2949%

#1098

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

2922%

#1100

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

2821%

#1101

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2705%

#1102

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2701%

#1103

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2628%

#1106

Core i5-2430M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

100%

#1108

Pentium Dual Core T4500

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

99%

#1109

Celeron B820

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

99%

#1110

Pentium B980

MSRP: $125|Avg: $35

98%

#1111

Celeron 867

MSRP: $86|Avg: $15

98%

#1112

Pentium B970

MSRP: $125|Avg: $39

98%

#1113

Core i5-2410M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

97%

#1114

Pentium T2370

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

97%

#1115

Pentium N3710

MSRP: $161|Avg: $50

96%

#1116

Core m3-7Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

96%

#1117

Pentium 977

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

96%

#1118

Core i7-2715QE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $50

95%

#1120

VIA Nano U2250

MSRP: $50|Avg: $10

95%

#1121

Core i5-560M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-655K delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i5-2430M in both compute-intensive tasks (0.1% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i5-655K	Core i5-2430M
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($55)	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i5-655K stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 76% cheaper ($55 vs $225) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i5-655K	Core i5-2430M
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+309%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($55)	⚠️ Higher cost ($225)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-655K Benchmark Check

Core i5-2430M Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-655K and Core i5-2430M

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.

Core i5-2430M

The Core i5-2430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,015 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-655K and Core i5-2430M share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K versus 3 GHz on the Core i5-2430M — a 14.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-655K uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-2430M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-655K scores 2,017 against the Core i5-2430M's 2,015 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-655K. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2430M.

Feature	Core i5-655K	Core i5-2430M
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.46 GHz+15%	3 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+33%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)+33%	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Clarkdale (2010−2011)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	2,017	2,015
Geekbench 6 Single	560	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,250	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-655K uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2430M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-655K versus 1333 on the Core i5-2430M — the Core i5-2430M supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H55,H57,P55 (Core i5-655K) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i5-2430M).

Feature	Core i5-655K	Core i5-2430M
Socket	LGA1156	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	1333+44333%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+104857500%	16
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-655K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i5-655K) vs true (Core i5-2430M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) (Core i5-655K) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i5-2430M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-655K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2430M rivals AMD A8-3500M.