Athlon II X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo SL9400
Athlon II X4 631
Core 2 Duo SL9400
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 X4 631 is positioned at rank 651 and the Core 2 Duo SL9400 is on rank 1147, so the Athlon II X4 631 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 X4 631
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SL9400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1770%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) |
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 X4 631 and Core 2 Duo SL9400
Athlon II X4 631
The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo SL9400
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $284.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo SL9400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 versus 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 — a 33.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 631 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Core 2 Duo SL9400's 2,144 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo SL9400. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SL9400.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+40% | 1.86 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+40% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 6 MB+500% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,118 | 2,144+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 631 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 631) and GS45,GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo SL9400).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+700% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 631) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo SL9400). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo SL9400 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 631 launched at $80 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo SL9400 debuted at $284.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo SL9400 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80-72% | $284 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2008 |
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