Core 2 Duo T5900 vs Phenom II X4 820
Core 2 Duo T5900
Phenom II X4 820
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 T5900 is positioned at rank 19 and the Phenom II X4 820 is on rank 916, so the Core 2 Duo T5900 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 T5900
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 820
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+904%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ 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 T5900 and Phenom II X4 820
Core 2 Duo T5900
The Core 2 Duo T5900 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: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,123 points. Launch price was $249.
Phenom II X4 820
The Phenom II X4 820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,114 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5900 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 820 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 820 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5900 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 820 — a 24% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 820. The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X4 820 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5900 scores 2,123 against the Phenom II X4 820's 2,114 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5900.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,123 | 2,114 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5900 uses the P socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 820 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | P | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($5 vs $50), the Core 2 Duo T5900 is $45 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo T5900 delivers 424.6 pts/$ vs 42.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X4 820 — making the Core 2 Duo T5900 the 163.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5900 | Phenom II X4 820 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-90% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 424.6+904% | 42.3 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2009 |
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