Core 2 Duo E4400 vs A9-9420e
Core 2 Duo E4400
A9-9420e
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 Core 2 Duo E4400 is positioned at rank 1001 and the A9-9420e is on rank 833, so the A9-9420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4400
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 Core 2 Duo E4400 and A9-9420e
Core 2 Duo E4400
The Core 2 Duo E4400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $249.
A9-9420e
The A9-9420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4400 and A9-9420e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 2.5 GHz on the A9-9420e — a 22.2% clock advantage for the A9-9420e. The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the A9-9420e uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4400 scores 1,095 against the A9-9420e's 1,101 — a 0.5% lead for the A9-9420e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 28 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,095 | 1,101 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 208 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A9-9420e uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-1066 on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 2133 on the A9-9420e — the A9-9420e supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core 2 Duo E4400) vs 1 (A9-9420e). PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo E4400) vs 4 (A9-9420e) — the A9-9420e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS600,Q965 (Core 2 Duo E4400) and FT4,FP4 (A9-9420e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-1066 | 2133+106550% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: None (Core 2 Duo E4400) vs true (A9-9420e). The A9-9420e includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240; A9-9420e rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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