Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD Athlon II X4 640 (AMD, 2010) and AMD Phenom II X2 560 (AMD, 2010) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: Athlon II X4 640 is about 17.9% faster
Both use the same AM3 socket, so they can be installed on the same motherboard. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | Athlon II X4 640 | Phenom II X2 560 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 3,300 | 2,800 |
| Generation | Athlon II | Phenom II |
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| Release Year | 2010 | 2010 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon HD 7850 | GeForce GTX 1030 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | Athlon II X4 640 |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Either works (same AM3 socket) |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | Phenom II X2 560 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
Athlon II X4 640 is about 17.9% higher by score (Athlon II X4 640: 3300 points / Phenom II X2 560: 2800 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
Athlon II X4 640 is Athlon II, while Phenom II X2 560 is Phenom II.Both use the same AM3 socket, so they can be installed on the same motherboard.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon HD 7850 pairs well with Athlon II X4 640 and GeForce GTX 1030 pairs well with Phenom II X2 560. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
