CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo E8600
Phenom II X4 P920
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 E8600 is positioned at rank 1050 and the Phenom II X4 P920 is on rank 483, so the Phenom II X4 P920 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 E8600
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 P920
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Phenom II X4 P920 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Phenom II X4 P920 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) | ✅ 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 E8600 and Phenom II X4 P920
Core 2 Duo E8600
The Core 2 Duo E8600 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 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 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: 1,378 points. Launch price was $249.
Phenom II X4 P920
The Phenom II X4 P920 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E8600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 P920 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 P920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8600 versus 1.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P920 — a 70.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8600. The Core 2 Duo E8600 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 P920 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8600 scores 1,378 against the Phenom II X4 P920's 1,395 — a 1.2% lead for the Phenom II X4 P920.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Phenom II X4 P920 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz+108% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,378 | 1,395+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 486 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 885 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8600 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 P920 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Phenom II X4 P920 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | S1g4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8600) / not specified (Phenom II X4 P920). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8600 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8600 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8600 | Phenom II X4 P920 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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