Athlon II X2 220 vs Core 2 Duo E6300
Athlon II X2 220
Core 2 Duo E6300
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 II X2 220 is positioned at rank 561 and the Core 2 Duo E6300 is on rank 1058, so the Athlon II X2 220 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 220
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+102%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 II X2 220 and Core 2 Duo E6300
Athlon II X2 220
The Athlon II X2 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.
Core 2 Duo E6300
The Core 2 Duo E6300 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 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,055 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 220 and Core 2 Duo E6300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 1.87 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6300 — a 39.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Athlon II X2 220 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6300 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Core 2 Duo E6300's 1,055 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6300. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+50% | 1.87 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+51% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,046 | 1,055 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 285 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 220 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E6300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 1066 on the Core 2 Duo E6300 — the Athlon II X2 220 supports 22.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 16 (Core 2 Duo E6300) — the Core 2 Duo E6300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6300).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+25% | 1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500; Core 2 Duo E6300 rivals Athlon 64 X2 3800+.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 220 launched at $32 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E6300 debuted at $163. At current prices ($10 vs $5), the Core 2 Duo E6300 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 220 delivers 104.6 pts/$ vs 211.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E6300 — making the Core 2 Duo E6300 the 67.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Core 2 Duo E6300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $32-80% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $5-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.6 | 211.0+102% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2006 |
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