Core i5-655K vs Phenom II X4 905e
Core i5-655K
Phenom II X4 905e
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 Phenom II X4 905e is on rank 316, so the Phenom II X4 905e 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 Phenom II X4 905e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-655K | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-655K | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Phenom II X4 905e
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.
Phenom II X4 905e
The Phenom II X4 905e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,014 points. Launch price was $212.
Processing Power
The Core i5-655K packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 905e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 905e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K versus 2.5 GHz on the Phenom II X4 905e — a 32.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-655K uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 905e uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-655K scores 2,017 against the Phenom II X4 905e's 2,014 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-655K. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 905e.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+38% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+28% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,017 | 2,014 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 560 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-655K uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 905e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i5-655K) / not specified (Phenom II X4 905e). The Core i5-655K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Phenom II X4 905e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-655K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-655K | Phenom II X4 905e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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