CPU
GPU
Athlon X2 BE-2350
Pentium D 960
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 X2 BE-2350 is positioned at rank 984 and the Pentium D 960 is on rank 1104, so the Athlon X2 BE-2350 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 BE-2350
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 BE-2350 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Brisbane (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 BE-2350 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+46%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 X2 BE-2350 and Pentium D 960
Athlon X2 BE-2350
The Athlon X2 BE-2350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Brisbane (2007−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 975 points. Launch price was $149.
Pentium D 960
The Pentium D 960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,005 points. Launch price was $523.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X2 BE-2350 and Pentium D 960 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Athlon X2 BE-2350 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium D 960 — a 52.6% clock advantage for the Pentium D 960. The Athlon X2 BE-2350 uses the Brisbane (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium D 960 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 BE-2350 scores 975 against the Pentium D 960's 1,005 — a 3% lead for the Pentium D 960. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2350 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Brisbane (2007−2008) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 975 | 1,005+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 BE-2350 uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium D 960 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2350 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X2 BE-2350 launched at $90 MSRP, while the Pentium D 960 debuted at $523. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon X2 BE-2350 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 BE-2350 delivers 97.5 pts/$ vs 67.0 pts/$ for the Pentium D 960 — making the Athlon X2 BE-2350 the 37.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2350 | Pentium D 960 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $90-83% | $523 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.5+46% | 67.0 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2006 |
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