Core 2 Duo E6320 vs Phenom II X3 N830

Core 2 Duo E6320 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo E6320

2 / 2

1,115

+0.7%

Pentium D 830

Pentium T2370

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

1,107

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Duo E6320 vs Phenom II X3 N830 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo E6320 vs Phenom II X3 N830: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo E6320

2007

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Phenom II X3 N830.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $163 MSRP, while Phenom II X3 N830 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4233.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 N830

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,107 vs 1,115).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E6320.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X3 N830 better than Core 2 Duo E6320?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X3 N830 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E6320 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E6320 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Phenom II X3 N830 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X3 N830 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $163 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core 2 Duo E6320 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2007 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (6.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Phenom II X3 N830 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2007). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo E6320 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo E6320

The Core 2 Duo E6320 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 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $249.

Phenom II X3 N830

The Phenom II X3 N830 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,107 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo E6320 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 N830 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 N830 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6320 versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N830 — a 12.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 N830. The Core 2 Duo E6320 uses the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N830 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E6320 scores 1,115 against the Phenom II X3 N830's 1,107 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo E6320.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E6320	Phenom II X3 N830
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	1.86 GHz	2.1 GHz+13%
Base Clock	1.86 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	4 MB+167%	1.5 MB
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Conroe (2006−2007)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,115	1,107

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E6320 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 N830 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E6320	Phenom II X3 N830
Socket	LGA775	S1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo E6320) / not specified (Phenom II X3 N830). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E6320 rivals Athlon 64 X2 4200+.