CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo T6600
Phenom II X4 840T
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 T6600 is positioned at rank 13 and the Phenom II X4 840T is on rank 265, so the Core 2 Duo T6600 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 T6600
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X4 840T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6600 | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zosma (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T6600 | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($4) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 T6600 and Phenom II X4 840T
Core 2 Duo T6600
The Core 2 Duo T6600 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 2,355 points. Launch price was $249.
Phenom II X4 840T
The Phenom II X4 840T is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Zosma (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 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: 2,367 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T6600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X4 840T offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 840T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T6600 versus 3.2 GHz on the Phenom II X4 840T — a 37% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 840T (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T6600 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses Zosma (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T6600 scores 2,355 against the Phenom II X4 840T's 2,367 — a 0.5% lead for the Phenom II X4 840T. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T6600 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 840T.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6600 | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+45% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Zosma (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,355 | 2,367 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 350 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T6600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X4 840T uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6600 | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T6600) / not specified (Phenom II X4 840T). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T6600 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T6600 | Phenom II X4 840T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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