Core 2 Duo E7400 vs Athlon II X2 270u
Core 2 Duo E7400
Athlon II X2 270u
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 E7400 is positioned at rank 544 and the Athlon II X2 270u is on rank 897, so the Core 2 Duo E7400 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 E7400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 270u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7400 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E7400 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ 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 E7400 and Athlon II X2 270u
Core 2 Duo E7400
The Core 2 Duo E7400 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,043 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X2 270u
The Athlon II X2 270u is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $68.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E7400 and Athlon II X2 270u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7400 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270u — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7400. The Core 2 Duo E7400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 270u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E7400 scores 1,043 against the Athlon II X2 270u's 1,045 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 270u. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7400 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+40% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+200% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,043 | 1,045 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 531 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 550 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E7400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 270u uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Core 2 Duo E7400 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 270u — the Core 2 Duo E7400 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 E7400) and AMD 760G,AMD 880G,AMD 970 (Athlon II X2 270u).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7400 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+35433% | DDR3-1333 |
| 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 E7400) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 270u). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 270u targets Office/Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E7400 rivals Athlon II X2 245; Athlon II X2 270u rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E7400 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Office/Budget Desktop |
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