Core i7-620M vs Athlon II X4 610e
Core i7-620M
Athlon II X4 610e
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 i7-620M is positioned at rank 262 and the Athlon II X4 610e is on rank 925, so the Core i7-620M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-620M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 610e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-620M | Athlon II X4 610e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-620M | Athlon II X4 610e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 i7-620M and Athlon II X4 610e
Core i7-620M
The Core i7-620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 1,976 points. Launch price was $332.
Athlon II X4 610e
The Athlon II X4 610e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,959 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Core i7-620M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 610e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 610e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-620M versus 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II X4 610e — a 32.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-620M (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-620M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X4 610e uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-620M scores 1,976 against the Athlon II X4 610e's 1,959 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-620M. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-620M vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 610e.
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II X4 610e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz+39% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+11% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Propus (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,976 | 1,959 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-620M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X4 610e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 610e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57 (Core i7-620M) and Socket AM3 (Athlon II X4 610e).
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II X4 610e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-620M) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X4 610e). The Core i7-620M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X4 610e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620M targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-620M rivals Core 2 Duo T9600.
| Feature | Core i7-620M | Athlon II X4 610e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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