Core 2 Duo E7300 vs Athlon II X3 420e
Core 2 Duo E7300
Athlon II X3 420e
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 E7300 is positioned at rank 969 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Athlon II X3 420e 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 E7300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($133) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+788%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($133) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 E7300 and Athlon II X3 420e
Core 2 Duo E7300
The Core 2 Duo E7300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 3 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,555 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E7300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7300 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7300 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E7300 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7300 scores 1,555 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 412 vs 314, a 27% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 725 vs 880 (19.3% advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz+3% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+2% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+500% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,555 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 412+31% | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 725 | 880+21% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E7300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E7300 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e — the Athlon II X3 420e supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 420e 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 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: P35,G33,G41,P45 (Core 2 Duo E7300) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1333+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core 2 Duo E7300 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E7300) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E7300 targets Legacy Desktop, Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7300 rivals Athlon II X2 245; Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E7300 launched at $133 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($133 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 420e is $118 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E7300 delivers 11.7 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Athlon II X3 420e the 159.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7300 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $133 | $107-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $133 | $15-89% |
| Performance per Dollar | 11.7 | 103.8+787% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo E7300 and Athlon II X3 420e
