Athlon II X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo T6400

Athlon II X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo T6400 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 631

4 / 4

2,118

+0.1%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core 2 Duo T6400

2 / 2

2,115

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 X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo T6400 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 X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo T6400: 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 X4 631

2011

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo T6400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4900% higher power demand at 100W vs 2W.

Core 2 Duo T6400

2009

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 100W, a 98W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,115 vs 2,118).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 631 better than Core 2 Duo T6400?

Yes. Athlon II X4 631 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% 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 X4 631 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.7% 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 X4 631 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 631 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 631 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $80 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 X4 631 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 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 X4 631 vs Core 2 Duo T6400 Technical Specifications

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

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 T6400

The Core 2 Duo T6400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,115 points. Launch price was $249.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 631 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T6400 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 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6400 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 631 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 631 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T6400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 631 scores 2,118 against the Core 2 Duo T6400's 2,115 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X4 631. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6400.

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core 2 Duo T6400
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.6 GHz+30%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+30%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB+100%
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	2,118	2,115
Geekbench 6 Single	—	650
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,300

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 631 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T6400 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 631 versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T6400 — the Athlon II X4 631 supports 133.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 631 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 631) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo T6400) — the Athlon II X4 631 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 631) and Intel GM45,Intel PM45 (Core 2 Duo T6400).

Feature	Athlon II X4 631	Core 2 Duo T6400
Socket	FM1	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+133%	DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+700%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0