Athlon 64 X2 5200+ vs Core 2 Duo SU7300

Athlon 64 X2 5200+ vs Core 2 Duo SU7300 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 5200+

2 / 2

1,505

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Duo SU7300

2 / 2

1,496

0.0%

Pentium U5600

Core i5-540UM

Pentium Extreme Edition 965

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 5200+ vs Core 2 Duo SU7300 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 5200+ vs Core 2 Duo SU7300: 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 5200+

2006

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 3.6 vs 5.2 PassMark/$ ($420 MSRP vs $289 MSRP).
❌2866.7% higher power demand at 89W vs 3W.

Core 2 Duo SU7300

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $131 less on MSRP ($289 MSRP vs $420 MSRP).
✅Delivers 44.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 5.2 vs 3.6 PassMark/$ ($289 MSRP vs $420 MSRP).
✅Draws 3W instead of 89W, a 86W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 X2 5200+ across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,496 vs 1,505).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 X2 5200+ better than Core 2 Duo SU7300?

Yes. Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% 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 5200+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.8% 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 5200+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon 64 X2 5200+ is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Athlon 64 X2 5200+ comes in 45.3% more expensive on MSRP at $420 MSRP versus $289 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core 2 Duo SU7300 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 4.8% in the shared gaming data.

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

Core 2 Duo SU7300 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 5200+ vs Core 2 Duo SU7300 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 X2 5200+

The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 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: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,505 points. Launch price was $149.

Core 2 Duo SU7300

The Core 2 Duo SU7300 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 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,496 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ and Core 2 Duo SU7300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ versus 1.3 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU7300 — a 70% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 5200+. The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SU7300 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ scores 1,505 against the Core 2 Duo SU7300's 1,496 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 5200+. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ vs 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU7300.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5200+	Core 2 Duo SU7300
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz+108%	1.3 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	512K+16967%	3 MB
Process	90 nm	45 nm-50%
Architecture	Windsor (2006−2007)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,505	1,496
Geekbench 6 Single	—	188
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	338

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core 2 Duo SU7300 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Duo SU7300 — the Core 2 Duo SU7300 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 X2 5200+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 5200+) and GS45,GM45 (Core 2 Duo SU7300).

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5200+	Core 2 Duo SU7300
Socket	AM2	BGA956
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3-1066+33%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 5200+) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo SU7300). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo SU7300 targets Ultra-Low Voltage Laptop.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5200+	Core 2 Duo SU7300
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x
Target Use	—	Ultra-Low Voltage Laptop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ was priced at $420, while the Core 2 Duo SU7300 came in at $289. On launch pricing ($420 vs $289), Core 2 Duo SU7300 was $131 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ delivers 3.6 pts/$ vs 5.2 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo SU7300 — making the Core 2 Duo SU7300 the 36.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 5200+	Core 2 Duo SU7300
MSRP	$420	$289-31%
Performance per Dollar	3.6	5.2+44%
Release Date	2006	2009

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