Core 2 Duo T5850 vs Phenom II X3 N870

Core 2 Duo T5850 vs Phenom II X3 N870 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Duo T5850

2 / 2

2,161

+0.7%

2,145

0.0%

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 T5850 vs Phenom II X3 N870 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 T5850 vs Phenom II X3 N870: 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 T5850

2008

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌33.3% higher power demand at 2W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 N870

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 2W, a 1W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,145 vs 2,161).

Quick Answers

So, is Phenom II X3 N870 better than Core 2 Duo T5850?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X3 N870 is ahead with a 0.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo T5850 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Duo T5850 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Phenom II X3 N870 still makes the most sense overall. Phenom II X3 N870 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.0% 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 N870 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Duo T5850 vs Phenom II X3 N870 Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Duo T5850

The Core 2 Duo T5850 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. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,161 points. Launch price was $249.

Phenom II X3 N870

The Phenom II X3 N870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,145 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Duo T5850 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 N870 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 N870 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5850 versus 2.3 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N870 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 N870. The Core 2 Duo T5850 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N870 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5850 scores 2,161 against the Phenom II X3 N870's 2,145 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5850.

Feature	Core 2 Duo T5850	Phenom II X3 N870
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	2.3 GHz+10%
L2 Cache	2 MB+33%	1.5 MB
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Merom (2006−2008)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	2,161	2,145