Core 2 Duo E7300 vs Phenom II X3 P820

Core 2 Duo E7300 vs Phenom II X3 P820 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo E7300

2 / 2

1,555

0.0%

1,560

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

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 E7300 vs Phenom II X3 P820 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 E7300 vs Phenom II X3 P820: 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 E7300

2008

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Phenom II X3 P820.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,555 vs 1,560).
❌Launch MSRP is still $133 MSRP, while Phenom II X3 P820 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4233.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 P820

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core 2 Duo E7300.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X3 P820 better than Core 2 Duo E7300?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core 2 Duo E7300 is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X3 P820 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X3 P820 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

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

Phenom II X3 P820 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X3 P820 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $133 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. Core 2 Duo E7300 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2008 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (11.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 P820 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 2 Duo E7300 vs Phenom II X3 P820 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Phenom II X3 P820

The Phenom II X3 P820 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: 1.8 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: 1,560 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo E7300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 P820 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 P820 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7300 versus 1.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 P820 — a 38.9% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7300. The Core 2 Duo E7300 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 P820 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7300 scores 1,555 against the Phenom II X3 P820's 1,560 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X3 P820.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E7300	Phenom II X3 P820
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.67 GHz+48%	1.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.66 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	3 MB (total)+100%	1.5 MB
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Wolfdale (2008−2010)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,555	1,560
Geekbench 6 Single	412	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	725	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E7300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 P820 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E7300	Phenom II X3 P820
Socket	LGA775	S1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E7300) / not specified (Phenom II X3 P820). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E7300 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7300 rivals Athlon II X2 245.