CPU
GPU
Athlon II X4 631
Core 2 Duo T5900
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 T5900 is on rank 19, so the Core 2 Duo T5900 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 T5900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo T5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo T5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+201%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 X4 631 and Core 2 Duo T5900
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 T5900
The Core 2 Duo T5900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,123 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T5900 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 2.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5900 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 631. The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5900 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Core 2 Duo T5900's 2,123 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5900.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo T5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,118 | 2,123 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T5900 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo T5900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | P |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($15 vs $5), the Core 2 Duo T5900 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 631 delivers 141.2 pts/$ vs 424.6 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo T5900 — making the Core 2 Duo T5900 the 100.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 631 | Core 2 Duo T5900 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $5-67% |
| Performance per Dollar | 141.2 | 424.6+201% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2008 |
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