Core 2 Duo SP9300 vs Phenom II X4 B97
Core 2 Duo SP9300
Phenom II X4 B97
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 SP9300 is positioned at rank 535 and the Phenom II X4 B97 is on rank 241, so the Phenom II X4 B97 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 SP9300
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 B97
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SP9300 | Phenom II X4 B97 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SP9300 | Phenom II X4 B97 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) |
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 SP9300 and Phenom II X4 B97
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.
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 |
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.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SP9300 | Phenom II X4 B97 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo SP9300) / not specified (Phenom II X4 B97).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SP9300 | Phenom II X4 B97 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo SP9300 and Phenom II X4 B97
