A10-6790B vs Core 2 Duo E7300

The A10-6790B packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E7300 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A10-6790B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the A10-6790B versus 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7300 — a 46.8% clock advantage for the A10-6790B (base: 4 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The A10-6790B uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E7300 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A10-6790B scores 1,546 against the Core 2 Duo E7300's 1,555 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7300.

The A10-6790B uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo E7300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the A10-6790B versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E7300 — the A10-6790B supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A10-6790B supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A78,A88X (A10-6790B) and P35,G33,G41,P45 (Core 2 Duo E7300).

Only the Core 2 Duo E7300 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A10-6790B) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo E7300). The A10-6790B includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8670D), while the Core 2 Duo E7300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-6790B targets Office, Core 2 Duo E7300 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A10-6790B rivals Core i3-4330; Core 2 Duo E7300 rivals Athlon II X2 245.

The A10-6790B launched at $122 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E7300 debuted at $133. At current prices ($50 vs $133), the A10-6790B is $83 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A10-6790B delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 11.7 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E7300 — making the A10-6790B the 90.2% better value option.