Core 2 Duo T5500 vs Phenom II X3 B73

Core 2 Duo T5500 vs Phenom II X3 B73 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo T5500

2 / 2

1,660

0.0%

1,671

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Duo T5500 vs Phenom II X3 B73 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Duo T5500 vs Phenom II X3 B73: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Duo T5500

2007

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 95W, a 93W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,660 vs 1,671).

Phenom II X3 B73

2009

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌4650% higher power demand at 95W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X3 B73 better than Core 2 Duo T5500?

Yes. Phenom II X3 B73 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Phenom II X3 B73 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Phenom II X3 B73 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 3 cores and 3 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Phenom II X3 B73 still makes the most sense overall. Phenom II X3 B73 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Phenom II X3 B73 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2007) and more multi-core headroom with 3 cores / 3 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core 2 Duo T5500 vs Phenom II X3 B73 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Duo T5500

The Core 2 Duo T5500 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 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 1.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,660 points. Launch price was $249.

Phenom II X3 B73

The Phenom II X3 B73 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2009 (16 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: 1,671 points. Launch price was $75.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo T5500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 B73 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 B73 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.66 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5500 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 B73 — a 51.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 B73 (base: 1.66 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5500 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5500 scores 1,660 against the Phenom II X3 B73's 1,671 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom II X3 B73. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo T5500 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 B73.

Feature	Core 2 Duo T5500	Phenom II X3 B73
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	1.66 GHz	2.8 GHz+69%
Base Clock	1.66 GHz	2.8 GHz+69%
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Merom (2006−2008)	Heka (2009−2010)
PassMark	1,660	1,671

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Duo T5500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.