Core i5-661 vs Athlon II X4 645
Core i5-661
Athlon II X4 645
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 i5-661 is positioned at rank 959 and the Athlon II X4 645 is on rank 819, so the Athlon II X4 645 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 645
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 i5-661 and Athlon II X4 645
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 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): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Athlon II X4 645
The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 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: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core i5-661 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 645 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 645 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 — a 14.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-661 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-661 scores 2,387 against the Athlon II X4 645's 2,375 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-661. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 645.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+16% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+7% | 3.1 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 | 2,387 | 2,375 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,374 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 399 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,374 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-661 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| 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: not specified (Core i5-661) / Yes (Athlon II X4 645). Primary use case: Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-661 launched at $196 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 645 debuted at $126. At current prices ($40 vs $20), the Athlon II X4 645 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-661 delivers 59.7 pts/$ vs 118.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 645 — making the Athlon II X4 645 the 66.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | Athlon II X4 645 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $196 | $126-36% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $20-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 59.7 | 118.8+99% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-661 and Athlon II X4 645
