Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Phenom II X4 920

Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Phenom II X4 920 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo E8700

2 / 2

2,212

+0.5%

2,202

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Phenom II X4 920 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Phenom II X4 920: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo E8700

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $256 MSRP, while Phenom II X4 920 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X4 920

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core 2 Duo E8700 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,202 vs 2,212).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Duo E8700 better than Phenom II X4 920?

Yes. Core 2 Duo E8700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Duo E8700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo E8700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Duo E8700 is the better buy right now. Core 2 Duo E8700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $256 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Phenom II X4 920 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Core 2 Duo E8700 vs Phenom II X4 920 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Phenom II X4 920

The Phenom II X4 920 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,202 points. Launch price was $90.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo E8700 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 920 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8700 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 920 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8700 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo E8700 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 920 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo E8700 scores 2,212 against the Phenom II X4 920's 2,202 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8700.

Feature	Core 2 Duo E8700	Phenom II X4 920
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+25%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+25%	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	—	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	6 MB (total)+1100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Wolfdale (2008−2010)	Deneb (2009−2011)
PassMark	2,212	2,202

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo E8700 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 920 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.