
Core 2 Duo P9700

Atom x5-E3930
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 P9700 is positioned at rank 564 and the Atom x5-E3930 is on rank 706, so the Core 2 Duo P9700 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 P9700
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-E3930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Atom x5-E3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Atom x5-E3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 P9700 and Atom x5-E3930

Core 2 Duo P9700
The Core 2 Duo P9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,178 points. Launch price was $348.

Atom x5-E3930
The Atom x5-E3930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,185 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo P9700 and Atom x5-E3930 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo P9700 versus 1.8 GHz on the Atom x5-E3930 — a 43.5% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo P9700 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x5-E3930 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo P9700 scores 1,178 against the Atom x5-E3930's 1,185 — a 0.6% lead for the Atom x5-E3930. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo P9700 vs 0 kB on the Atom x5-E3930.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Atom x5-E3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+56% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+115% | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,178 | 1,185 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo P9700 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom x5-E3930 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Atom x5-E3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
The Atom x5-E3930 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Core 2 Duo P9700 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo P9700 | Atom x5-E3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
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