Core 2 Duo E6300 vs Athlon II X2 240
Core 2 Duo E6300
Athlon II X2 240
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 E6300 is positioned at rank 1058 and the Athlon II X2 240 is on rank 852, so the Athlon II X2 240 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 E6300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+99%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 E6300 and Athlon II X2 240
Core 2 Duo E6300
The Core 2 Duo E6300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 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: 1,055 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X2 240
The Athlon II X2 240 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,060 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E6300 and Athlon II X2 240 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.87 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 240 — a 39.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 240 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E6300 uses the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X2 240 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6300 scores 1,055 against the Athlon II X2 240's 1,060 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X2 240. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.87 GHz | 2.8 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.8 GHz+51% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Conroe (2006−2007) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,055 | 1,060 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 373 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 700 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E6300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 240 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Core 2 Duo E6300 versus DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 240 — the Core 2 Duo E6300 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6300) and 760G,785G,790GX,880G,890GX (Athlon II X2 240).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+35433% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core 2 Duo E6300) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 240). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 240 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6300 rivals Athlon 64 X2 3800+; Athlon II X2 240 rivals Pentium E5400.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E6300 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 240 debuted at $60. At current prices ($5 vs $10), the Core 2 Duo E6300 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E6300 delivers 211.0 pts/$ vs 106.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 240 — making the Core 2 Duo E6300 the 66.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E6300 | Athlon II X2 240 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163 | $60-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-50% | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 211.0+99% | 106.0 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2009 |
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