Core i5-660 vs Phenom II X4 850
Core i5-660
Phenom II X4 850
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 i5-660 is positioned at rank 954 and the Phenom II X4 850 is on rank 251, so the Phenom II X4 850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-660
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-660 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($28) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-660 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+436%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($28) |
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 i5-660 and Phenom II X4 850
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.
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 |
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.
| Feature | Core i5-660 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($150 vs $28), the Phenom II X4 850 is $122 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-660 delivers 16.3 pts/$ vs 87.2 pts/$ for the Phenom II X4 850 — making the Phenom II X4 850 the 137.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-660 | Phenom II X4 850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $196 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $28-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 16.3 | 87.2+435% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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