
Core 2 Duo SU9400 vs Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

Core 2 Duo SU9400

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85
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 Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 is on rank 413, 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 Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Puma (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 SU9400 and Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85

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.

Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85
The Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Puma (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,585 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo SU9400 and Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 versus 2.3 GHz on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 — a 48.6% clock advantage for the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85. The Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 uses Puma (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo SU9400 scores 1,596 against the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85's 1,585 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo SU9400. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 vs 0 kB on the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.3 GHz+64% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+50% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Puma (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,596 | 1,585 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 uses S1g2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo SU9400 | Turion X2 Ultra ZM-85 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | S1g2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
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