Core 2 Duo E8200 vs Phenom II X2 550
Core 2 Duo E8200
Phenom II X2 550
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 Phenom II X2 550 is on rank 516, so the Phenom II X2 550 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 Phenom II X2 550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Phenom II X2 550
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.
Phenom II X2 550
The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8200 and Phenom II X2 550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8200 versus 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 — a 14.9% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8200 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8200 scores 1,144 against the Phenom II X2 550's 1,142 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8200. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E8200 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz | 3.1 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 3.1 GHz+17% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Callisto (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,144 | 1,142 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8200 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8200) / not specified (Phenom II X2 550). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8200 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8200 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8200 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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