Athlon II X2 270u vs Core 2 Duo E8300
Athlon II X2 270u
Core 2 Duo E8300
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 270u is positioned at rank 897 and the Core 2 Duo E8300 is on rank 1060, so the Athlon II X2 270u 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 270u
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ 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 270u and Core 2 Duo E8300
Athlon II X2 270u
The Athlon II X2 270u 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. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $68.
Core 2 Duo E8300
The Core 2 Duo E8300 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 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.83 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: 1,039 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 270u and Core 2 Duo E8300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270u versus 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 — a 34.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300. The Athlon II X2 270u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8300 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 270u scores 1,045 against the Core 2 Duo E8300's 1,039 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X2 270u. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 531 vs 1,000 (61.3% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 345, a 14% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 550 vs 771 (33.5% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.83 GHz+42% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.83 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 | 1,045 | 1,039 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 531 | 1,000+88% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | 345+15% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 550 | 771+40% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 270u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8300 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 760G,AMD 880G,AMD 970 (Athlon II X2 270u) and P35,P45,G33,G31 (Core 2 Duo E8300).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 270u) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 270u targets Office/Budget Desktop, Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 270u rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Office/Budget Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 270u launched at $68 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E8300 debuted at $163. At current prices ($10 vs $20), the Athlon II X2 270u is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 270u delivers 104.5 pts/$ vs 52.0 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E8300 — making the Athlon II X2 270u the 67.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 270u | Core 2 Duo E8300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $68-58% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-50% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.5+101% | 52.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2008 |
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