Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core 2 Duo E8335

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core 2 Duo E8335 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

2 / 2

1,095

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Duo E8335

2 / 2

1,094

0.0%

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.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core 2 Duo E8335 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core 2 Duo E8335: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

2005

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.1 vs 5.5 PassMark/$ ($354 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
❌102.3% higher power demand at 89W vs 44W.

Core 2 Duo E8335

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅Delivers 76.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 5.5 vs 3.1 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅Draws 44W instead of 89W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,094 vs 1,095).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 X2 3800+ better than Core 2 Duo E8335?

Yes. Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon 64 X2 3800+ comes in 77.0% more expensive on MSRP at $354 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core 2 Duo E8335 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 76.8% better value on paper (5.5 vs 3.1 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on P.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core 2 Duo E8335 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2005). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Core 2 Duo E8335 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 2 Duo E8335

The Core 2 Duo E8335 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.933 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,094 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ and Core 2 Duo E8335 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus 0.93 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8335 — a 73% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 3800+. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8335 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ scores 1,095 against the Core 2 Duo E8335's 1,094 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 3800+.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core 2 Duo E8335
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2 GHz+115%	0.93 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.933 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	6 MB (total)+1100%
Process	90 nm	45 nm-50%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,095	1,094

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo E8335 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core 2 Duo E8335
Socket	939	P
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ was priced at $354, while the Core 2 Duo E8335 came in at $200. On launch pricing ($354 vs $200), Core 2 Duo E8335 was $154 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ delivers 3.1 pts/$ vs 5.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8335 — making the Core 2 Duo E8335 the 55.5% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Core 2 Duo E8335
MSRP	$354	$200-44%
Performance per Dollar	3.1	5.5+77%
Release Date	2005	2009

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