Core 2 Duo T7200 vs Athlon II M300
Core 2 Duo T7200
Athlon II M300
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 T7200 is positioned at rank 29 and the Athlon II M300 is on rank 940, so the Core 2 Duo T7200 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 T7200
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($6) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+68%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($6) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 T7200 and Athlon II M300
Core 2 Duo T7200
The Core 2 Duo T7200 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,717 points. Launch price was $286.
Athlon II M300
The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T7200 and Athlon II M300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7200 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 — identical boost frequencies. The Core 2 Duo T7200 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II M300 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T7200 scores 1,717 against the Athlon II M300's 1,700 — a 1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T7200.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+300% | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Caspian (2009) |
| PassMark | 1,717+1% | 1,700 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T7200 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II M300 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Core 2 Duo T7200 versus 800 on the Athlon II M300 — the Athlon II M300 supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: GM965,PM965 (Core 2 Duo T7200) and S1g3 (Athlon II M300).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | S1g3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 800+39900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7200) vs true (Athlon II M300). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7200 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7200 rivals Athlon 64 X2 TK-42; Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo T7200 launched at $286 MSRP, while the Athlon II M300 debuted at $100. At current prices ($6 vs $10), the Core 2 Duo T7200 is $4 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo T7200 delivers 286.2 pts/$ vs 170.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II M300 — making the Core 2 Duo T7200 the 50.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7200 | Athlon II M300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $286 | $100-65% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $6-40% | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 286.2+68% | 170.0 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2009 |
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