Core 2 Duo T9300 vs A8-3550MX
Core 2 Duo T9300
A8-3550MX
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 T9300 is positioned at rank 176 and the A8-3550MX is on rank 732, so the Core 2 Duo T9300 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 T9300
Performance Per Dollar A8-3550MX
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9300 | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9300 | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 T9300 and A8-3550MX
Core 2 Duo T9300
The Core 2 Duo T9300 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,670 points. Launch price was $316.
A8-3550MX
The A8-3550MX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,687 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3550MX offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3550MX has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9300 versus 2.7 GHz on the A8-3550MX — a 7.7% clock advantage for the A8-3550MX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-3550MX uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9300 scores 1,670 against the A8-3550MX's 1,687 — a 1% lead for the A8-3550MX. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9300 vs 0 kB on the A8-3550MX.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,670 | 1,687+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 432 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9300 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A8-3550MX uses FS1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FS1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9300) vs AMD-V (A8-3550MX). The A8-3550MX includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Core 2 Duo T9300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9300 targets Budget, A8-3550MX targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9300 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U; A8-3550MX rivals Core i5-2540M.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | A8-3550MX |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6620G |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | High Performance Laptop |
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