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AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs AMD Athlon II X4 557

Table of Contents



Overview:

Comparison between AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and AMD Athlon II X4 557

Both CPUs are manufactured by AMD. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher base speed of 3.9 GHz compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.2 GHz. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher turbo speed of 5.4 GHz compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.7 GHz. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has more cores (6) compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 4 cores. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports more threads (12) compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 4 threads.

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses the AM5 socket, while AMD Athlon II X4 557 uses the AM3 socket. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X was launched in Q3 2024, while AMD Athlon II X4 557 was launched in Q3 2021. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a larger L3 cache of 32 MB compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 6 MB.

Specification Summary

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and AMD Athlon II X4 557 are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

  • Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by AMD.
  • Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a base speed of 3.9 GHz, while the AMD Athlon II X4 557 runs at 3.2 GHz.
  • Turbo Boost: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports a turbo speed of 5.4 GHz, compared to 3.7 GHz for the AMD Athlon II X4 557.
  • Cores: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores, while the AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 cores.
  • Threads: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports 12 threads, compared to 4 threads for the AMD Athlon II X4 557.
  • Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
  • Socket: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses the AM5, while the AMD Athlon II X4 557 uses the AM3.
  • Launch Date: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X was launched on Q3 2024, while the AMD Athlon II X4 557 was released on Q3 2021.
  • L3 Cache: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 32 MB of L3 cache, compared to 6 MB for the AMD Athlon II X4 557.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs AMD Ryzen 5 9600X AMD Athlon II X4 557
AMD AMD
Manufacturer AMD AMD
Speed 3.9 GHz 3.2 GHz
Turbo 5.4 GHz 3.7 GHz
Cores 6 4
Threads 12 4
Class Desktop Desktop
Socket AM5 AM3
Launched Q3 2024 Q3 2021
L3 Cache 32 MB 6 MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:


CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X:



76%
AMD Athlon II X4 557:
22%
* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:


CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X



43%
AMD Athlon II X4 557:
3%
* More is Better

Power Efficiency:


Power Consumption of CPU under full load

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X: 65 watts



16.25%
AMD Athlon II X4 557: 160 watts
40%
* Lower is Better

Launched Date:


Time when the CPU was launched


AMD Ryzen 5 9600X : Q3 2024 ✅

AMD Athlon II X4 557 : Q3 2021 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X



AMD Athlon II X4 557


Pro's and Con's

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Newer Release: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X was launched more recently (Q3 2024) compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557 (Q3 2021). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.
  • Higher Base Clock Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has a higher base clock speed of 3.9 GHz compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.2 GHz. This results in better performance for single-threaded tasks and general responsiveness.
  • Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports a higher turbo boost speed of 5.4 GHz compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.7 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
  • Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 4588, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X outperforms the AMD Athlon II X4 557 (score: 1345). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
  • Larger L3 Cache: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X features a larger L3 cache of 32MB compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557's 6MB. A larger cache improves performance in memory-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, by reducing latency and speeding up data access.

Cons:

  • Not available

AMD Athlon II X4 557 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Higher CPU Mark Score: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has a higher CPU Mark score of NA compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 123.09. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

  • Fewer Cores: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 cores, which is fewer than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 6 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
  • Fewer Threads: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 threads, which is fewer than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 12 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
  • Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD Athlon II X4 557 scores 2567, which is lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's score of 30156. This makes the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.
  • Higher Power Consumption: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has a higher TDP of 160W compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X's 65W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.


Productivity


AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
This cpu Handles Mid Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Mid Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

AMD Athlon II X4 557
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.


Gaming

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.

AMD Athlon II X4 557
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.



Verdict

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a reliable and Mid Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Mid Level computing needs or those building a New PC.

AMD Athlon II X4 557

The AMD Athlon II X4 557 is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.