Core 2 Duo T5600 vs Athlon II X3 420e
Core 2 Duo T5600
Athlon II X3 420e
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 T5600 is positioned at rank 1179 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Athlon II X3 420e 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 T5600
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1504%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 T5600 and Athlon II X3 420e
Core 2 Duo T5600
The Core 2 Duo T5600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 July 2006 (19 years ago). 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: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $241.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — a 34.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e (base: 1.83 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5600 scores 1,560 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5600. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.6 GHz+42% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.6 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,560 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 880 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 420e — the Athlon II X3 420e supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X3 420e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo T5600) vs 16 (Athlon II X3 420e) — the Athlon II X3 420e offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 945GM,945PM (Core 2 Duo T5600) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR3-1333+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T5600) / AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). Primary use case: Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo T5600 launched at $241 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $241 | $107-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2010 |
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