Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE

Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo P8700

2 / 2

2,805

0.0%

2,839

+1.2%

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 P8700 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE 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 P8700 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE: 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 P8700

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Phenom II X2 X640 BE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,805 vs 2,839).
❌Launch MSRP is still $241 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 X640 BE mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌50% higher power demand at 3W vs 2W.

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 2W instead of 3W, a 1W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X2 X640 BE better than Core 2 Duo P8700?

Yes. Phenom II X2 X640 BE is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Phenom II X2 X640 BE is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.6% 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, Phenom II X2 X640 BE is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Phenom II X2 X640 BE is still the much better call for a fresh build. Phenom II X2 X640 BE comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $241 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core 2 Duo P8700 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (11.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA478.

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

Phenom II X2 X640 BE makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 2 Duo P8700 vs Phenom II X2 X640 BE Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Duo P8700

The Core 2 Duo P8700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,805 points. Launch price was $209.

Phenom II X2 X640 BE

The Phenom II X2 X640 BE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,839 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core 2 Duo P8700 and Phenom II X2 X640 BE share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P8700 versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X2 X640 BE — a 23.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 X640 BE. The Core 2 Duo P8700 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P8700 scores 2,805 against the Phenom II X2 X640 BE's 2,839 — a 1.2% lead for the Phenom II X2 X640 BE.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Phenom II X2 X640 BE
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.53 GHz	3.2 GHz+26%
Base Clock	2.53 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB L2 Cache	—
L2 Cache	3 MB+50%	2 MB
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	2,805	2,839+1%

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo P8700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X2 X640 BE uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Duo P8700	Phenom II X2 X640 BE
Socket	PGA478	S1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	1066	—
Max RAM Capacity	8	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core 2 Duo P8700) / not specified (Phenom II X2 X640 BE). Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo P8700 rivals Turion II Ultra M600.