AMD Athlon II X4 620e

AMD Athlon II X4 620e: Review of an Outdated but Resilient Quad-Core Processor for Budget Tasks

April 2025

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Process Technology, Performance

Architecture and Process Technology

The AMD Athlon II X4 620e, released in 2009, is based on the Propus microarchitecture with a 45 nm process technology. It was one of AMD's first mass-market "quad-core" processors targeting the budget segment. Unlike the higher-end Phenom II, it lacks L3 cache, which reduces performance in memory latency-sensitive tasks.

Key Parameters:

- 4 cores / 4 threads;

- Base frequency: 2.6 GHz (no Turbo Core);

- TDP: 45 W;

- Cache: 4×512 KB L2.

Performance

In 2025, the Athlon II X4 620e appears archaic. In Cinebench R23 tests, it scores around 800–1000 points (for comparison: Ryzen 3 3200G — 4500+). However, its performance is sufficient for basic tasks (office work, web surfing, HD video). A practical example: in a system with an SSD and 8 GB DDR3, the processor handles Windows 10 and light applications (LibreOffice, browsers) without noticeable lag.

Features:

- Low power consumption (relevant for home servers);

- Support for virtualization (AMD-V);

- Compatibility with inexpensive AM3 motherboards.

2. Compatible Motherboards: Sockets and Chipsets

AM3 Socket

The processor uses the AM3 socket. Compatible chipsets include:

- AMD 7 Series: 770, 780G, 785G, 790X/FX;

- AMD 8 Series: 880G, 890GX (after BIOS update).

Selection Considerations

- Integrated Graphics: Available only on boards with 780G, 785G, 880G chipsets (e.g., ASUS M4A785T-M). A discrete graphics card is required for other motherboards.

- Overclocking: Limited due to the locked multiplier by AMD. However, the base frequency can be raised via FSB (risky for stability).

- Example Board: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 (price in 2025: $40–60 for a new one on clearance).

3. Supported Memory Types

Only DDR3

The Athlon II X4 620e works with DDR3:

- Frequencies: 1066–1333 MHz (officially), up to 1600 MHz when overclocked;

- Maximum capacity: depends on the motherboard (usually up to 16 GB).

Important: Modern DDR4/DDR5 standards are not supported. Upgrading will require finding old DDR3 modules, predominantly available used in 2025 (new ones — $20–30 for 8 GB).

4. Power Supply Recommendations

Power Calculation

With a TDP of 45 W, the processor is highly energy-efficient. Even with a discrete graphics card like the NVIDIA GT 1030 (30 W), the system consumes no more than 150 W.

Recommended PSUs:

- For systems without a graphics card: 300 W (e.g., be quiet! SFX Power 3, $45);

- With a graphics card: 450 W (Corsair CX450, $55).

Advice: Don't skimp on the PSU for old systems—poor quality models can damage components.

5. Pros and Cons of Athlon II X4 620e

Pros:

- Low price (new units on clearance — $30–50);

- Energy efficiency;

- Four cores for parallel tasks.

Cons:

- Outdated architecture (no AVX support, low IPC);

- Limited upgrade potential (maximum — Phenom II X6 on AM3);

- No integrated graphics in the CPU itself.

6. Usage Scenarios

- Office and Web: Document editing, Zoom, browsing with 5–10 tabs.

- Multimedia: Playback of Full HD video (with discrete graphics — up to 4K).

- Light Gaming: CS:GO, Dota 2 on low settings (30–40 FPS with GTX 750 Ti).

- Home Server: NAS or media server due to its low TDP.

Real Example: A user built a file server on Athlon II X4 620e + 16 GB DDR3 + 4 HDDs. Consumption — 60 W at idle.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 (65 W): Weaker in multithreading but better in single-threaded tasks. Price: $25–40.

- AMD Phenom II X4 945 (95 W): 20–30% more powerful but runs hotter and requires good cooling.

- Intel Pentium G3420 (54 W): More modern (Haswell, 2013) but only 2 cores.

Conclusion: The Athlon II X4 620e is a choice for those who need four cores and minimal power consumption.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- SSD is a must: Kingston A400 240 GB ($30) will eliminate the speed bottleneck in system responsiveness.

- Cooling: The stock cooler is adequate, but for quiet operation, consider a Deepcool Gammaxx 400 ($20).

- OS: Windows 10 LTSC or Linux (Ubuntu LTS).

- Check BIOS: Older boards may require an update for CPU support.

Example Build:

- CPU: Athlon II X4 620e ($40);

- Motherboard: ASUS M5A78L-M ($55);

- Memory: 8 GB DDR3 ($25);

- Storage: SSD 240 GB ($30);

- PSU: 450 W ($55).

Total: $205 without a graphics card.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the Athlon II X4 620e for?

This processor is suitable for:

1. Budget builds (cheaper than modern Celerons);

2. Upgrading old PCs on AM3;

3. Energy-efficient projects (media servers, routers).

Why in 2025?

If you want to revive an old computer or build a "workhorse" on a budget, the Athlon II X4 620e still has what it takes. However, for gaming, video editing, or AI tasks, it is no longer suitable.

Note: Prices are current as of April 2025 for new components available on clearance or from niche retailers.