CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo T8300
Athlon II Neo K125
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 T8300 is positioned at rank 710 and the Athlon II Neo K125 is on rank 982, so the Core 2 Duo T8300 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 T8300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II Neo K125
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Athlon II Neo K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Geneva (2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Athlon II Neo K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 T8300 and Athlon II Neo K125
Core 2 Duo T8300
The Core 2 Duo T8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,472 points. Launch price was $241.
Athlon II Neo K125
The Athlon II Neo K125 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,491 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T8300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II Neo K125 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core 2 Duo T8300 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T8300 versus 1.7 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K125 — a 34.1% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T8300. The Core 2 Duo T8300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II Neo K125 uses Geneva (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T8300 scores 1,472 against the Athlon II Neo K125's 1,491 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon II Neo K125.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Athlon II Neo K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2+100% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+41% | 1.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+200% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Geneva (2010) |
| PassMark | 1,472 | 1,491+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 850 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T8300 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II Neo K125 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo T8300 versus DDR3-800 on the Athlon II Neo K125 — the Athlon II Neo K125 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo T8300 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: GM965,PM965 (Core 2 Duo T8300) and AMD ASB2 (Athlon II Neo K125).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Athlon II Neo K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-800+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+100% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T8300) / not specified (Athlon II Neo K125). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T8300 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Athlon II Neo K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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