CPU
GPU
Phenom II X2 550
Core i5-2537M
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 Core i5-2537M is on rank 1217, 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 Core i5-2537M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Core i5-2537M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 550 | Core i5-2537M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 Core i5-2537M
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.
Core i5-2537M
The Core i5-2537M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X2 550 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-2537M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 versus 2.3 GHz on the Core i5-2537M — a 29.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Phenom II X2 550 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-2537M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 550 scores 1,142 against the Core i5-2537M's 1,144 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-2537M. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2537M.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Core i5-2537M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+35% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+121% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Callisto (2009−2010) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,142 | 1,144 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 427 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 717 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X2 550 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2537M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Core i5-2537M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X2 550) / true (Core i5-2537M). The Core i5-2537M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom II X2 550 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-2537M rivals Core i5-2410M.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 550 | Core i5-2537M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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