CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo SL9400
Athlon II X4 631
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 SL9400 is positioned at rank 1147 and the Athlon II X4 631 is on rank 651, so the Athlon II X4 631 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 SL9400
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 631
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1770%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 SL9400 and Athlon II X4 631
Core 2 Duo SL9400
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $284.
Athlon II X4 631
The Athlon II X4 631 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,118 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 631 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 631 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X4 631 — a 33.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 631 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 631 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SL9400 scores 2,144 against the Athlon II X4 631's 2,118 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo SL9400. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 631.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.6 GHz+40% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.6 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,144+1% | 2,118 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X4 631 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X4 631 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: GS45,GM45,PM45 (Core 2 Duo SL9400) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 631).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 64 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo SL9400) / not specified (Athlon II X4 631). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo SL9400 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 launched at $284 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 631 debuted at $80.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Athlon II X4 631 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $284 | $80-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2011 |
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