Core 2 Duo T9300 vs Phenom II X3 B73
Core 2 Duo T9300
Phenom II X3 B73
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 Phenom II X3 B73 is on rank 380, 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 Phenom II X3 B73
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9300 | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T9300 | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom II X3 B73
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.
Phenom II X3 B73
The Phenom II X3 B73 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,671 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T9300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 B73 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 B73 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9300 versus 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 B73 — a 11.3% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 B73 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T9300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T9300 scores 1,670 against the Phenom II X3 B73's 1,671 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 B73. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9300 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 B73.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.8 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.8 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB L2 Cache | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+1100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,670 | 1,671 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 432 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T9300 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 B73 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Duo T9300) / not specified (Phenom II X3 B73). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo T9300 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo T9300 rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T9300 | Phenom II X3 B73 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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