CPU
GPU
Phenom II X2 550
Athlon II X2 245
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 Phenom II X2 550 is positioned at rank 516 and the Athlon II X2 245 is on rank 862, so the Phenom II X2 550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 550
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 245
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Phenom II X2 550 and Athlon II X2 245
Phenom II X2 550
The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.
Athlon II X2 245
The Athlon II X2 245 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,134 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X2 550 and Athlon II X2 245 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245 — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Phenom II X2 550 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 245 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 550 scores 1,142 against the Athlon II X2 245's 1,134 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X2 550. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 245.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+7% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+7% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Callisto (2009−2010) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,142 | 1,134 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X2 550) / true (Athlon II X2 245). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245 rivals Pentium E5500.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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