Phenom X4 9600 vs Core i5-2557M
Phenom X4 9600
Core i5-2557M
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 X4 9600 is positioned at rank 397 and the Core i5-2557M is on rank 36, so the Core i5-2557M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9600
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2557M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X4 9600 | Core i5-2557M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X4 9600 | Core i5-2557M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ 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 X4 9600 and Core i5-2557M
Phenom X4 9600
The Phenom X4 9600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,607 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-2557M
The Core i5-2557M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 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: 1,618 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Phenom X4 9600 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2557M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X4 9600 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-2557M — a 16% clock advantage for the Core i5-2557M. The Phenom X4 9600 uses the Agena (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i5-2557M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X4 9600 scores 1,607 against the Core i5-2557M's 1,618 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-2557M. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9600 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2557M.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9600 | Core i5-2557M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.7 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Agena (2007−2008) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,607 | 1,618 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 521 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 882 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X4 9600 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2557M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9600 | Core i5-2557M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom X4 9600) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-2557M). The Core i5-2557M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Phenom X4 9600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2557M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-2557M rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Phenom X4 9600 | Core i5-2557M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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