Core 2 Duo T7800 vs Athlon X4 970
Core 2 Duo T7800
Athlon X4 970
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 T7800 is positioned at rank 156 and the Athlon X4 970 is on rank 582, so the Core 2 Duo T7800 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 T7800
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 970
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7800 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T7800 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
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 T7800 and Athlon X4 970
Core 2 Duo T7800
The Core 2 Duo T7800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 August 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,663 points. Launch price was $515.
Athlon X4 970
The Athlon X4 970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,644 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T7800 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon X4 970 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 970 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T7800 versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 — a 42.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T7800 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon X4 970 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T7800 scores 2,663 against the Athlon X4 970's 2,644 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo T7800. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7800 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 4 GHz+54% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz+46% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 28 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,663 | 2,644 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T7800 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon X4 970 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Core 2 Duo T7800 versus DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 970 — the Athlon X4 970 supports 66.7% 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 T7800) and AMD AM4 (Athlon X4 970).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7800 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR4-2400+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T7800) / not specified (Athlon X4 970). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T7800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T7800 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T7800 | Athlon X4 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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 T7800 and Athlon X4 970
