Core 2 Duo E8400 vs Athlon 64 X2 4000+
Core 2 Duo E8400
Athlon 64 X2 4000+
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 E8400 is positioned at rank 508 and the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ is on rank 1082, so the Core 2 Duo E8400 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 E8400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 4000+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E8400 and Athlon 64 X2 4000+
Core 2 Duo E8400
The Core 2 Duo E8400 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 1,165 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon 64 X2 4000+
The Athlon 64 X2 4000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,175 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo E8400 and Athlon 64 X2 4000+ share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8400 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ — a 40% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8400. The Core 2 Duo E8400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8400 scores 1,165 against the Athlon 64 X2 4000+'s 1,175 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 4000+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512K |
| Process | 45 nm-50% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,165 | 1,175 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 195 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 380 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8400 versus DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 4000+ — the Core 2 Duo E8400 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E8400 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo E8400) vs 0 (Athlon 64 X2 4000+) — the Core 2 Duo E8400 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E8400) and nForce 500,AMD 690G (Athlon 64 X2 4000+).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+66550% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 4 GB+26214300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core 2 Duo E8400) vs AMD-V (Athlon 64 X2 4000+). Primary use case: Athlon 64 X2 4000+ targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8400 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8400 | Athlon 64 X2 4000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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