Core i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850

Core i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-660

2 / 4

2,439

0.0%

2,441

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850 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 i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-660

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 73W instead of 95W, a 22W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Phenom II X4 850 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,439 vs 2,441).
❌Launch MSRP is still $196 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 850 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X4 850

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌30.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 73W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X4 850 better than Core i5-660?

Yes. Phenom II X4 850 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Phenom II X4 850 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X4 850 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Phenom II X4 850 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X4 850 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $196 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-660 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (12.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1156.

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

Phenom II X4 850 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850 Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-660

The Core i5-660 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 2,439 points. Launch price was $70.

Phenom II X4 850

The Phenom II X4 850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 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: 2,441 points. Launch price was $111.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-660 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-660 versus 3.3 GHz on the Phenom II X4 850 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-660 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-660 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-660 scores 2,439 against the Phenom II X4 850's 2,441 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X4 850. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-660 vs 0 kB on the Phenom II X4 850.

Feature	Core i5-660	Phenom II X4 850
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+9%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.33 GHz	3.3 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	2,439	2,441

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-660 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X4 850 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.