Core 2 Duo E8200 vs Athlon II X2 245e
Core 2 Duo E8200
Athlon II X2 245e
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 E8200 is positioned at rank 1048 and the Athlon II X2 245e is on rank 939, so the Athlon II X2 245e 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 E8200
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 245e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 E8200 and Athlon II X2 245e
Core 2 Duo E8200
The Core 2 Duo E8200 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: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,144 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X2 245e
The Athlon II X2 245e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,141 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8200 and Athlon II X2 245e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8200 versus 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245e — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245e (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8200 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 245e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8200 scores 1,144 against the Athlon II X2 245e's 1,141 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8200. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 319, a 9.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8200 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 650 vs 741 (13.1% advantage for the Athlon II X2 245e). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz | 2.9 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.9 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+500% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,144 | 1,141 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350+10% | 319 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | 741+14% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8200 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 245e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E8200 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 245e — the Athlon II X2 245e supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 245e 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. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,G33,G45 (Core 2 Duo E8200) and 760G,770,780G,785G,790FX,790GX (Athlon II X2 245e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8200) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 245e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8200 targets Legacy Desktop, Athlon II X2 245e targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8200 rivals Phenom II X2 550; Athlon II X2 245e rivals Athlon II X2 270u.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E8200 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 245e debuted at $87. At current prices ($20 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 245e is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8200 delivers 57.2 pts/$ vs 76.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 245e — making the Athlon II X2 245e the 28.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Athlon II X2 245e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163 | $87-47% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $15-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 57.2 | 76.1+33% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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