Athlon II X4 638 vs Core 2 Duo T6500
Athlon II X4 638
Core 2 Duo T6500
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 638 is positioned at rank 1040 and the Core 2 Duo T6500 is on rank 178, so the Core 2 Duo T6500 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 638
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Core 2 Duo T6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Core 2 Duo T6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 638 and Core 2 Duo T6500
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo T6500
The Core 2 Duo T6500 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 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: 2,249 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 638 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T6500 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6500 — a 25% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 638 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T6500 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Core 2 Duo T6500's 2,249 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6500.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core 2 Duo T6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 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 | 2,260 | 2,249 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T6500 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T6500 — the Athlon II X4 638 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 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 638) and PM45 (Core 2 Duo T6500).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core 2 Duo T6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866+50% | DDR2-800 |
| 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 638) / false (Core 2 Duo T6500).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Core 2 Duo T6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | false |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II X4 638 and Core 2 Duo T6500
