
Core 2 Duo SU9300 vs Pentium Silver A1030

Core 2 Duo SU9300

Pentium Silver A1030
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 Pentium Silver A1030 is on rank 1140, 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 Pentium Silver A1030
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pentium Silver A1030

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.

Pentium Silver A1030
The Pentium Silver A1030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: upto-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,380 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo SU9300 and Pentium Silver A1030 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver A1030 — a 76.9% clock advantage for the Pentium Silver A1030 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SU9300 is built on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SU9300 scores 1,392 against the Pentium Silver A1030's 1,380 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo SU9300. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 vs 4 MB on the Pentium Silver A1030.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.7 GHz+125% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache | 4 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | — |
| PassMark | 1,392 | 1,380 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium Silver A1030 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9300 | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | FCBGA1090 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
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