Core 2 Duo SL9400 vs Phenom II X4 910e
Core 2 Duo SL9400
Phenom II X4 910e
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 Phenom II X4 910e is on rank 927, so the Phenom II X4 910e 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 Phenom II X4 910e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) | ✅ More affordable ($69) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+312%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($284) | ✅ More affordable ($69) |
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 Phenom II X4 910e
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.
Phenom II X4 910e
The Phenom II X4 910e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,148 points. Launch price was $157.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 910e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 910e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 versus 2.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 910e — a 33.2% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 910e (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 910e uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SL9400 scores 2,144 against the Phenom II X4 910e's 2,148 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom II X4 910e. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SL9400 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 910e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,144 | 2,148 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 910e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Phenom II X4 910e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core 2 Duo SL9400) vs 0 (Phenom II X4 910e) — the Core 2 Duo SL9400 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo SL9400) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X4 910e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo SL9400 targets Mobile, Phenom II X4 910e targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mobile | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo SL9400 launched at $284 MSRP, while the Phenom II X4 910e debuted at $157.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SL9400 | Phenom II X4 910e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $284 | $157-45% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $69 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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