CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E8300
Athlon II X2 220
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 E8300 is positioned at rank 1060 and the Athlon II X2 220 is on rank 561, so the Athlon II X2 220 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 E8300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($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 E8300 and Athlon II X2 220
Core 2 Duo E8300
The Core 2 Duo E8300 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 2.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.83 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: 1,039 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X2 220
The Athlon II X2 220 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. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8300 and Athlon II X2 220 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 — a 1.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300 (base: 2.83 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8300 scores 1,039 against the Athlon II X2 220's 1,046 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X2 220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 345 vs 285, a 19% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8300 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 771 vs 500 (42.6% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8300). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.83 GHz+1% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.83 GHz+1% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,039 | 1,046 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 345+21% | 285 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 771+54% | 500 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8300 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 — the Athlon II X2 220 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo E8300) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 220) — the Core 2 Duo E8300 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,P45,G33,G31 (Core 2 Duo E8300) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8300) vs true (Athlon II X2 220). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E8300 launched at $163 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 220 debuted at $32. At current prices ($20 vs $10), the Athlon II X2 220 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8300 delivers 52.0 pts/$ vs 104.6 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 220 — making the Athlon II X2 220 the 67.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8300 | Athlon II X2 220 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $163 | $32-80% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $10-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 52.0 | 104.6+101% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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