Core 2 Duo SP9600 vs Athlon X4 750K
Core 2 Duo SP9600
Athlon X4 750K
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 SP9600 is positioned at rank 138 and the Athlon X4 750K is on rank 576, so the Core 2 Duo SP9600 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 SP9600
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 750K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SP9600 | Athlon X4 750K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) | ✅ More affordable ($17) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SP9600 | Athlon X4 750K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1787%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($316) | ✅ More affordable ($17) |
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 SP9600 and Athlon X4 750K
Core 2 Duo SP9600
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,836 points. Launch price was $316.
Athlon X4 750K
The Athlon X4 750K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,879 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon X4 750K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 750K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9600 versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 750K — a 45% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 750K (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon X4 750K uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SP9600 scores 2,836 against the Athlon X4 750K's 2,879 — a 1.5% lead for the Athlon X4 750K.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SP9600 | Athlon X4 750K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 4 GHz+58% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.4 GHz+34% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,836 | 2,879+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 uses the BGA479 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon X4 750K uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SP9600 | Athlon X4 750K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA479 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo SP9600 launched at $316 MSRP, while the Athlon X4 750K debuted at $91.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SP9600 | Athlon X4 750K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $316 | $91-71% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $17 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2012 |
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