Athlon II X2 240e vs Core 2 Duo T9400

Athlon II X2 240e vs Core 2 Duo T9400 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 240e

2 / 2

1,007

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Duo T9400

2 / 2

1,004

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 II X2 240e vs Core 2 Duo T9400 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 II X2 240e vs Core 2 Duo T9400: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X2 240e

2009

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Core 2 Duo T9400.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $77 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo T9400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌650% higher power demand at 45W vs 6W.

Core 2 Duo T9400

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 45W, a 39W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,004 vs 1,007).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 240e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 240e better than Core 2 Duo T9400?

Yes. Athlon II X2 240e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X2 240e is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% 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 II X2 240e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 240e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 240e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $77 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X2 240e makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 240e vs Core 2 Duo T9400 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 240e

The Athlon II X2 240e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 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: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $35.

Core 2 Duo T9400

The Core 2 Duo T9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,004 points. Launch price was $316.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 240e and Core 2 Duo T9400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 240e versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9400 — a 10.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 240e (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Athlon II X2 240e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T9400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 240e scores 1,007 against the Core 2 Duo T9400's 1,004 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 240e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 240e vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9400.

Feature	Athlon II X2 240e	Core 2 Duo T9400
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+11%	2.53 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+11%	2.53 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	1 MB	6 MB+500%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,007	1,004
Geekbench 6 Single	—	320

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 240e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T9400 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 240e versus DDR3-1066 on the Core 2 Duo T9400 — the Athlon II X2 240e supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 240e) and GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo T9400).

Feature	Athlon II X2 240e	Core 2 Duo T9400
Socket	AM3	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	1333+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 240e) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9400). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 240e rivals Pentium E5400; Core 2 Duo T9400 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.