CPU
GPU
Athlon 64 X2 6000+
Phenom X4 9600B
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 X2 6000+ is positioned at rank 1077 and the Phenom X4 9600B is on rank 1055, so the Phenom X4 9600B 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 X2 6000+
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X4 9600B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) |
| 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 X2 6000+ and Phenom X4 9600B
Athlon 64 X2 6000+
The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 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: 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,825 points. Launch price was $149.
Phenom X4 9600B
The Phenom X4 9600B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,842 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom X4 9600B offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9600B has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ versus 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X4 9600B — a 29.6% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 X2 6000+. The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ uses the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture (90 nm), while the Phenom X4 9600B uses Agena (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ scores 1,825 against the Phenom X4 9600B's 1,842 — a 0.9% lead for the Phenom X4 9600B. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9600B.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+35% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 90 nm | 65 nm-28% |
| Architecture | Windsor (2006−2007) | Agena (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,825 | 1,842 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom X4 9600B uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-800 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR2-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 6000+) / AMD-V (Phenom X4 9600B). Primary use case: Phenom X4 9600B targets Business.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Business |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ launched at $450 MSRP, while the Phenom X4 9600B debuted at $278. At current prices ($20 vs $20), the Phenom X4 9600B is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ delivers 91.3 pts/$ vs 92.1 pts/$ for the Phenom X4 9600B — making the Phenom X4 9600B the 0.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 6000+ | Phenom X4 9600B |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $450 | $278-38% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 91.3 | 92.1 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2008 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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