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AMD Athlon II X4 620e: Review of an Outdated but Resilient Quad-Core Processor for Budget Tasks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