Athlon 64 TF-20 vs Core 2 Duo E6420
Athlon 64 TF-20
Core 2 Duo E6420
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 TF-20 is positioned at rank 790 and the Core 2 Duo E6420 is on rank 1054, so the Athlon 64 TF-20 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 TF-20
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sherman (2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 TF-20 and Core 2 Duo E6420
Athlon 64 TF-20
The Athlon 64 TF-20 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Sherman (2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,245 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo E6420
The Core 2 Duo E6420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.13 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,235 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 TF-20 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E6420 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Core 2 Duo E6420 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 TF-20 versus 2.13 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6420 — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E6420. The Athlon 64 TF-20 uses the Sherman (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6420 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 TF-20 scores 1,245 against the Core 2 Duo E6420's 1,235 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon 64 TF-20.
| Feature | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.13 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.13 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sherman (2009) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,245 | 1,235 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 TF-20 uses the S1g1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E6420 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon 64 TF-20 versus 1066 on the Core 2 Duo E6420 — the Core 2 Duo E6420 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E6420 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1 (Athlon 64 TF-20) and P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6420).
| Feature | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g1 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 1066+53200% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+26214300% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: false (Athlon 64 TF-20) vs true (Core 2 Duo E6420). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6420 rivals Athlon 64 X2 5400+.
| Feature | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | false | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 TF-20 launched at $50 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E6420 debuted at $183. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Core 2 Duo E6420 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 TF-20 delivers 124.5 pts/$ vs 123.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E6420 — making the Athlon 64 TF-20 the 0.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 TF-20 | Core 2 Duo E6420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-73% | $183 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 124.5 | 123.5 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2007 |
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