CPU
GPU
Phenom II X2 B53
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 B53 is positioned at rank 1038 and the Athlon II X2 245 is on rank 862, so the Athlon II X2 245 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 B53
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 245
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 B53 and Athlon II X2 245
Phenom II X2 B53
The Phenom II X2 B53 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,137 points. Launch price was $149.
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 B53 and Athlon II X2 245 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X2 B53 versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Phenom II X2 B53 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 B53 scores 1,137 against the Athlon II X2 245's 1,134 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X2 B53. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 B53 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 245.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz+4% |
| 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 | 1,137 | 1,134 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X2 B53 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 245 — the Athlon II X2 245 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X2 B53) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 245).
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Phenom II X2 B53) vs true (Athlon II X2 245). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245 rivals Pentium E5500.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | true |
Value Analysis
The Phenom II X2 B53 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 245 debuted at $66. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 245 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom II X2 B53 delivers 75.8 pts/$ vs 75.6 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 245 — making the Phenom II X2 B53 the 0.3% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 B53 | Athlon II X2 245 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | $66-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 75.8 | 75.6 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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