
Core 2 Duo U7700 vs Athlon II X3 405e

Core 2 Duo U7700

Athlon II X3 405e
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 U7700 is positioned at rank 1203 and the Athlon II X3 405e is on rank 935, so the Athlon II X3 405e 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 U7700
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 405e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo U7700 | Athlon II X3 405e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom-2048 (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo U7700 | Athlon II X3 405e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 U7700 and Athlon II X3 405e

Core 2 Duo U7700
The Core 2 Duo U7700 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 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,335 points. Launch price was $249.

Athlon II X3 405e
The Athlon II X3 405e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,331 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo U7700 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 405e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 405e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo U7700 versus 2.3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 405e — a 53.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 405e (base: 1.33 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core 2 Duo U7700 uses the Merom-2048 (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X3 405e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo U7700 scores 1,335 against the Athlon II X3 405e's 1,331 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo U7700. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo U7700 | Athlon II X3 405e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.33 GHz | 2.3 GHz+73% |
| Base Clock | 1.33 GHz | 2.3 GHz+73% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom-2048 (2006−2008) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,335 | 1,331 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo U7700 uses the P socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X3 405e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo U7700 | Athlon II X3 405e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | P | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Duo U7700 launched at $262 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 405e debuted at $100. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Athlon II X3 405e is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Duo U7700 delivers 133.5 pts/$ vs 133.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 405e — making the Core 2 Duo U7700 the 0.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo U7700 | Athlon II X3 405e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $262 | $100-62% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 133.5 | 133.1 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2009 |
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