Core 2 Duo SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97

Core 2 Duo SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo SP9300

2 / 2

2,517

0.0%

Pentium Dual Core SU4100

2,540

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

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 SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97 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 SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97: 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 SP9300

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 95W, a 89W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,517 vs 2,540).

Phenom II X4 B97

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Core 2 Duo SP9300 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1483.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 6W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X4 B97 better than Core 2 Duo SP9300?

Yes. Phenom II X4 B97 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.9% 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 X4 B97 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% 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 X4 B97 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Phenom II X4 B97 is the better buy right now. Phenom II X4 B97 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (25.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Phenom II X4 B97 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 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 SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97 Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Duo SP9300

The Core 2 Duo SP9300 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 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,517 points. Launch price was $284.

Phenom II X4 B97

The Phenom II X4 B97 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,540 points. Launch price was $100.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo SP9300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 B97 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 B97 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.26 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9300 versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 B97 — a 34.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 B97 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SP9300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 B97 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SP9300 scores 2,517 against the Phenom II X4 B97's 2,540 — a 0.9% lead for the Phenom II X4 B97. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SP9300 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 B97.

Feature	Core 2 Duo SP9300	Phenom II X4 B97
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.26 GHz	3.2 GHz+42%
Base Clock	2.26 GHz	3.2 GHz+42%
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	2,517	2,540

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo SP9300 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 B97 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.