Core 2 Duo T5200 vs Athlon 64 FX-55
Core 2 Duo T5200
Athlon 64 FX-55
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 T5200 is positioned at rank 263 and the Athlon 64 FX-55 is on rank 1134, so the Core 2 Duo T5200 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 T5200
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-55
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5200 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5200 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 T5200 and Athlon 64 FX-55
Core 2 Duo T5200
The Core 2 Duo T5200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 705 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon 64 FX-55
The Athlon 64 FX-55 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 104 Watt. Memory support: DDR1 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 690 points. Launch price was $180.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5200 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon 64 FX-55 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core 2 Duo T5200 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5200 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-55 — a 44.1% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-55 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5200 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-55 uses Clawhammer (2001−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5200 scores 705 against the Athlon 64 FX-55's 690 — a 2.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5200. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5200 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2+100% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.66 GHz | 2.6 GHz+57% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.6 GHz+63% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm-50% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Clawhammer (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 705+2% | 690 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5200 uses the BGA479 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 FX-55 uses 939 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5200 | Athlon 64 FX-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA479 | 939 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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