CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 245e
Core 2 Duo E8200
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 245e is positioned at rank 939 and the Core 2 Duo E8200 is on rank 1048, so the Athlon II X2 245e 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 245e
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 245e and Core 2 Duo E8200
Athlon II X2 245e
The Athlon II X2 245e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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: 1,141 points. Launch price was $80.
Core 2 Duo E8200
The Core 2 Duo E8200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 245e and Core 2 Duo E8200 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245e versus 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8200 — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245e (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Athlon II X2 245e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8200 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 245e scores 1,141 against the Core 2 Duo E8200's 1,144 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8200. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 319 vs 350, a 9.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8200 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 741 vs 650 (13.1% advantage for the Athlon II X2 245e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+9% | 2.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+9% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 6 MB (total)+500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,141 | 1,144 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 319 | 350+10% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 741+14% | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 245e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8200 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 245e versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E8200 — the Athlon II X2 245e supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 245e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: 760G,770,780G,785G,790FX,790GX (Athlon II X2 245e) and P35,P45,G33,G45 (Core 2 Duo E8200).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 245e) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8200). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 245e targets Budget, Core 2 Duo E8200 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245e rivals Athlon II X2 270u; Core 2 Duo E8200 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 245e launched at $87 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E8200 debuted at $163. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Athlon II X2 245e is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 245e delivers 76.1 pts/$ vs 57.2 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8200 — making the Athlon II X2 245e the 28.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 245e | Core 2 Duo E8200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-47% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 76.1+33% | 57.2 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2008 |
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