Core 2 Duo SU9300 vs A8-3500M
Core 2 Duo SU9300
A8-3500M
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 SU9300 is positioned at rank 143 and the A8-3500M is on rank 821, so the Core 2 Duo SU9300 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 SU9300
Performance Per Dollar A8-3500M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | A8-3500M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | A8-3500M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 SU9300 and A8-3500M
Core 2 Duo SU9300
The Core 2 Duo SU9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,392 points. Launch price was $249.
A8-3500M
The A8-3500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,391 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo SU9300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3500M offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3500M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 versus 2.4 GHz on the A8-3500M — a 66.7% clock advantage for the A8-3500M (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-3500M uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SU9300 scores 1,392 against the A8-3500M's 1,391 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo SU9300. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 vs 0 kB on the A8-3500M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | A8-3500M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.5 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+200% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,392 | 1,391 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 231 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A8-3500M uses FS1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | A8-3500M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | FS1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo SU9300) / AMD-V (A8-3500M). The A8-3500M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Core 2 Duo SU9300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3500M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A8-3500M rivals Core i3-2310M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | A8-3500M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6620G |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Laptop |
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