Core 2 Duo SU9400 vs Phenom II X3 720
Core 2 Duo SU9400
Phenom II X3 720
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 SU9400 is positioned at rank 409 and the Phenom II X3 720 is on rank 957, so the Core 2 Duo SU9400 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 SU9400
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 720
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) |
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 SU9400 and Phenom II X3 720
Core 2 Duo SU9400
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 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 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 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: 1,596 points. Launch price was $262.
Phenom II X3 720
The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 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: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 720 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 720 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SU9400 scores 1,596 against the Phenom II X3 720's 1,600 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+100% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+500% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,596 | 1,600 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 980 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 720 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | AM3 |
| 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 | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo SU9400) / AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Phenom II X3 720 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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