Athlon 64 FX-72 vs Core 2 Duo T9500
Athlon 64 FX-72
Core 2 Duo T9500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 FX-72 is positioned at rank 1100 and the Core 2 Duo T9500 is on rank 343, so the Core 2 Duo T9500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-72
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T9500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 FX-72 and Core 2 Duo T9500
Athlon 64 FX-72
The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo T9500
The Core 2 Duo T9500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,799 points. Launch price was $530.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 FX-72 and Core 2 Duo T9500 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9500 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-72. The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T9500 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-72 scores 1,794 against the Core 2 Duo T9500's 1,799 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9500. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 FX-72 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9500.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 6 MB+500% |
| Process | 90 nm | 45 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,794 | 1,799 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 FX-72 uses the F socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo T9500 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 FX-72 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Duo T9500 — the Core 2 Duo T9500 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: AMD F (1207) (Athlon 64 FX-72) and GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo T9500).
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | F | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 FX-72) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9500). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9500 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-72 | Core 2 Duo T9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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