Core 2 Duo T6500 vs Athlon II X4 638
Core 2 Duo T6500
Athlon II X4 638
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 T6500 is positioned at rank 178 and the Athlon II X4 638 is on rank 1040, so the Core 2 Duo T6500 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 T6500
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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 T6500 and Athlon II X4 638
Core 2 Duo T6500
The Core 2 Duo T6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,249 points. Launch price was $249.
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T6500 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6500 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 25% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 638 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T6500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T6500 scores 2,249 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6500 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.7 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.7 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,249 | 2,260 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T6500 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T6500 versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 — the Athlon II X4 638 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: PM45 (Core 2 Duo T6500) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1866+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 64 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: false (Core 2 Duo T6500) / not specified (Athlon II X4 638).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6500 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Duo T6500 and Athlon II X4 638
