Core 2 Duo T8300 vs Phenom X4 9450e
Core 2 Duo T8300
Phenom X4 9450e
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 Phenom X4 9450e is on rank 1093, 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 Phenom X4 9450e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Phenom X4 9450e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($430) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Phenom X4 9450e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($430) |
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 Phenom X4 9450e
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.
Phenom X4 9450e
The Phenom X4 9450e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,455 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T8300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom X4 9450e offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9450e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T8300 versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom X4 9450e — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T8300. The Core 2 Duo T8300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom X4 9450e uses Agena (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T8300 scores 1,472 against the Phenom X4 9450e's 1,455 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo T8300. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T8300 vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X4 9450e.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Phenom X4 9450e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+14% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB L2 Cache+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+500% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Agena (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,472+1% | 1,455 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 850 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T8300 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom X4 9450e uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Phenom X4 9450e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T8300) / not specified (Phenom X4 9450e). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T8300 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T8300 | Phenom X4 9450e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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