Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Athlon II X3 425e
Core 2 Duo E8700
Athlon II X3 425e
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 E8700 is positioned at rank 1020 and the Athlon II X3 425e is on rank 620, so the Athlon II X3 425e 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 E8700
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 425e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8700 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo E8700 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+91%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($58) |
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 E8700 and Athlon II X3 425e
Core 2 Duo E8700
The Core 2 Duo E8700 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,212 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X3 425e
The Athlon II X3 425e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,239 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo E8700 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 425e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 425e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8700 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X3 425e — a 25.8% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8700 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8700 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X3 425e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8700 scores 2,212 against the Athlon II X3 425e's 2,239 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II X3 425e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8700 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+30% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+30% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,212 | 2,239+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo E8700 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X3 425e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8700 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo E8700 launched at $256 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 425e debuted at $79. At current prices ($30 vs $58), the Core 2 Duo E8700 is $28 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo E8700 delivers 73.7 pts/$ vs 38.6 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 425e — making the Core 2 Duo E8700 the 62.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo E8700 | Athlon II X3 425e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $256 | $79-69% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30-48% | $58 |
| Performance per Dollar | 73.7+91% | 38.6 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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