AMD Athlon 240GE vs Intel Core i5-2550K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Athlon 240GE wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, taking all six recorded tests. The Intel Core i5-2550K, despite having twice the core count, never manages to beat its rival in any Cinebench workload. The margins are consistent, ranging from a 5.6% deficit to a 6.4% deficit, which indicates a systematic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Athlon 240GE scores 390 against the i5-2550K's 365, a 6.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the same pattern: 54 versus 51, a 5.6% lead for AMD. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 1627 versus 1523, again a 6.4% gap, while single-core shows 229 versus 215, a 6.1% margin. The newest workload, Cinebench R23, repeats the story exactly: 3876 versus 3628 in multicore (6.4% ahead) and 547 versus 512 in single-core (6.4% ahead).

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across six benchmarks, the AMD part never dips below a 5.6% lead, and the most common margin is exactly 6.4%. This suggests the Athlon 240GE has a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage that the older Intel design cannot offset, regardless of how many cores are engaged.

The database also records average benchmark scores for both CPUs. The i5-2550K sits at 1136, while the Athlon 240GE records 1121. Both processors occupy the 32nd percentile against all CPUs tracked in the database. The i5-2550K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3570T at an identical 1136 average score, the Intel Xeon E5640 at 1137, and the Intel Core i3-N300 at 1135. The Athlon 240GE's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon D-1518 at 1121, the Intel Core i7-2860QM at 1120, and the Intel Core i3-4150 at 1119. These close clusters confirm that both chips sit in the same performance tier, though the head-to-head results give the edge to AMD.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and entirely different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-2550K is a Sandy Bridge part, built on Intel's 32 nm process with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It features 4 physical cores with 4 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory controller supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. It uses Intel Socket 1155 and offers PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This is a fully unlocked part, meaning the multiplier can be adjusted freely, and it was launched with a TDP of 95 watts.

The AMD Athlon 240GE is a Zen-based part from the Raven Ridge generation, fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process. It integrates 4,950 million transistors on a 209.8 mm² die, a transistor count over four times higher than the Intel chip. Despite the larger transistor count, the AMD part has only 2 physical cores with 4 threads via simultaneous multithreading. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz with no boost clock recorded. The cache layout is different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a much higher recorded bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It uses AMD Socket AM4 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The TDP is dramatically lower at 35 watts, and the multiplier is locked. The Athlon also includes integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, something the i5-2550K lacks entirely.

The process node advantage is clear: 14 nm versus 32 nm. The AMD chip's transistor density is far higher, and its memory bandwidth is 67% greater on paper (42.7 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s). The Intel part compensates with more physical cores and a larger L3 cache, but the data shows this does not translate into a benchmark win. The AMD part also benefits from being a much newer design, released in December 2018 versus January 2012 for Intel. While the i5-2550K is end-of-life, the Athlon 240GE remains in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a single conclusion: the AMD Athlon 240GE is the faster processor in every measured workload. It wins all six Cinebench tests, both single-core and multicore, with margins between 5.6% and 6.4%. The Intel Core i5-2550K, despite its additional two physical cores, cannot close the gap. The Athlon's architectural efficiency, newer process node, and higher memory bandwidth appear to overcome the core-count disadvantage.

For single-threaded performance, the Athlon leads by 5.6% to 6.4% depending on the Cinebench version. For multi-threaded performance, the lead is consistently 6.4%. This is remarkable given that the Intel chip has twice the physical cores. The data suggests that the Zen architecture's per-core performance is substantially better than Sandy Bridge's, enough to compensate for having only half the cores.

The average benchmark scores are close (1136 for Intel, 1121 for AMD), and both sit at the 32nd percentile. This means that in the broader database context, these CPUs are roughly equivalent in overall standing. However, the head-to-head results are decisive. If the choice is strictly between these two based on benchmark performance, the AMD Athlon 240GE is the superior pick.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the database?

A: The AMD Athlon 240GE wins all six recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i5-2550K wins zero.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest margin is 6.4%, which appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, Cinebench R20 multicore, Cinebench R23 multicore, and Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Athlon 240GE has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel processor have any advantage in memory bandwidth?

A: No. The AMD Athlon 240GE records 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i5-2550K records 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both record a 32nd percentile against all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Athlon 240GE, which features Radeon Vega 3. The Intel Core i5-2550K has no integrated graphics recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon 240GE wins in every computational benchmark recorded. There is no test in the database where the Intel Core i5-2550K comes out ahead. This includes both single-core and multicore workloads across three versions of Cinebench. For users prioritizing raw CPU performance in rendering or similar workloads, the Athlon is the clear choice based on the data.

The Intel Core i5-2550K's only potential advantages lie outside the benchmark suite. It has more physical cores, which could theoretically help in highly parallel workloads that scale perfectly with core count, but the recorded Cinebench multicore results show this advantage does not materialize. The Intel chip also has a larger L3 cache (6 MB versus 4 MB) and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, but the database does not include overclocked benchmark results.

The Athlon 240GE wins on efficiency metrics as well. Its TDP is 35 watts versus 95 watts for Intel, a massive difference that suggests lower power consumption and heat output. It also supports newer DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel part is limited to DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2. The integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics on the Athlon provide a display output capability that the i5-2550K completely lacks. For a system builder prioritizing modern platform features, energy efficiency, and integrated graphics, the AMD part has multiple advantages beyond the benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2550K | AMD Athlon 240GE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | None recorded |

| TDP | 95 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Zen |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 209.8 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | January 2012 | December 2018 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |