Core 2 Duo E4400 vs Athlon II Neo K325
Core 2 Duo E4400
Athlon II Neo K325
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 Athlon II Neo K325 is on rank 912, so the Athlon II Neo K325 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 Athlon II Neo K325
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Geneva (2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+23%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 Athlon II Neo K325
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.
Athlon II Neo K325
The Athlon II Neo K325 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,111 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4400 and Athlon II Neo K325 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 1.3 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K325 — a 42.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E4400. The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II Neo K325 uses Geneva (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4400 scores 1,095 against the Athlon II Neo K325's 1,111 — a 1.5% lead for the Athlon II Neo K325. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 208 vs 736, a 111.9% lead for the Athlon II Neo K325 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+54% | 1.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Geneva (2010) |
| PassMark | 1,095 | 1,111+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 208 | 736+254% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,235 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II Neo K325 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-1066 on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus DDR3-800 on the Athlon II Neo K325 — the Athlon II Neo K325 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E4400 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RS600,Q965 (Core 2 Duo E4400) and M880G (Athlon II Neo K325).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-1066 | DDR3-800+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: None (Core 2 Duo E4400) vs AMD-V (Athlon II Neo K325). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget, Athlon II Neo K325 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Low Power |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E4400 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Athlon II Neo K325 debuted at $60. At current prices ($20 vs $25), the Core 2 Duo E4400 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E4400 delivers 54.8 pts/$ vs 44.4 pts/$ for the Athlon II Neo K325 — making the Core 2 Duo E4400 the 20.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II Neo K325 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $113 | $60-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-20% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 54.8+23% | 44.4 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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