Core 2 Duo E4400 vs Athlon II X2 210e
Core 2 Duo E4400
Athlon II X2 210e
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 X2 210e is on rank 837, so the Athlon II X2 210e 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 X2 210e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($28) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+41%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($28) |
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 X2 210e
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 X2 210e
The Athlon II X2 210e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,089 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E4400 and Athlon II X2 210e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 210e — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 210e (base: 2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X2 210e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E4400 scores 1,095 against the Athlon II X2 210e's 1,089 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4400. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.6 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.6 GHz+30% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Allendale (2006−2009) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,095 | 1,089 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 208 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E4400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 210e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-1066 on the Core 2 Duo E4400 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 210e — the Athlon II X2 210e supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RS600,Q965 (Core 2 Duo E4400) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 210e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-1066 | 1333+66550% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: None (Core 2 Duo E4400) vs true (Athlon II X2 210e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240; Athlon II X2 210e rivals Pentium E5300.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E4400 launched at $113 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 210e debuted at $60. At current prices ($20 vs $28), the Core 2 Duo E4400 is $8 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E4400 delivers 54.8 pts/$ vs 38.9 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 210e — making the Core 2 Duo E4400 the 33.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E4400 | Athlon II X2 210e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $113 | $60-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-29% | $28 |
| Performance per Dollar | 54.8+41% | 38.9 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2010 |
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