
Core 2 Duo U7600 vs Phenom II X3 N850

Core 2 Duo U7600

Phenom II X3 N850
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 U7600 is positioned at rank 1206 and the Phenom II X3 N850 is on rank 539, so the Phenom II X3 N850 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 U7600
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 N850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo U7600 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom-2048 (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo U7600 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ 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 U7600 and Phenom II X3 N850

Core 2 Duo U7600
The Core 2 Duo U7600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom-2048 (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,263 points. Launch price was $249.

Phenom II X3 N850
The Phenom II X3 N850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,253 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo U7600 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 N850 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 N850 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo U7600 versus 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N850 — a 58.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 N850. The Core 2 Duo U7600 uses the Merom-2048 (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N850 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo U7600 scores 1,263 against the Phenom II X3 N850's 1,253 — a 0.8% lead for the Core 2 Duo U7600.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo U7600 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.2 GHz+83% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+33% | 1.5 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom-2048 (2006−2008) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,263 | 1,253 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo U7600 uses the BGA479 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 N850 uses S1g4 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo U7600 | Phenom II X3 N850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA479 | S1g4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
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