
Core 2 Duo L7400 vs Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

Core 2 Duo L7400

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
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 L7400 is positioned at rank 434 and the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is on rank 1019, so the Core 2 Duo L7400 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 L7400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo L7400 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tyler (2007−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo L7400 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 L7400 and Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

Core 2 Duo L7400
The Core 2 Duo L7400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It has 2 cores. Base frequency: 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 765 points. Launch price was $249.

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 775 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo L7400 and Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is built on the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo L7400 scores 765 against the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42's 775 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo L7400 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | — | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | — | Tyler (2007−2009) |
| PassMark | 765 | 775+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo L7400 uses the BGA479 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo L7400 | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA479 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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