Core 2 Duo T5550 vs Phenom II X3 B77
Core 2 Duo T5550
Phenom II X3 B77
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 T5550 is positioned at rank 23 and the Phenom II X3 B77 is on rank 1057, so the Core 2 Duo T5550 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 T5550
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 B77
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Phenom II X3 B77 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Phenom II X3 B77 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+593%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 T5550 and Phenom II X3 B77
Core 2 Duo T5550
The Core 2 Duo T5550 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 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,826 points. Launch price was $249.
Phenom II X3 B77
The Phenom II X3 B77 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,844 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5550 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 B77 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 B77 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5550 versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X3 B77 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 B77 (base: 1.83 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5550 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 B77 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5550 scores 1,826 against the Phenom II X3 B77's 1,844 — a 1% lead for the Phenom II X3 B77. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5550 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 B77.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Phenom II X3 B77 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.2 GHz+75% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.2 GHz+75% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,826 | 1,844 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5550 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 B77 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Phenom II X3 B77 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($5 vs $35), the Core 2 Duo T5550 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo T5550 delivers 365.2 pts/$ vs 52.7 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 B77 — making the Core 2 Duo T5550 the 149.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5550 | Phenom II X3 B77 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $281 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-86% | $35 |
| Performance per Dollar | 365.2+593% | 52.7 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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