CPU
GPU
Core 2 Extreme X7800
Phenom II X2 550
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 Extreme X7800 is positioned at rank 1145 and the Phenom II X2 550 is on rank 516, so the Phenom II X2 550 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 Extreme X7800
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X7800 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom XE (2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X7800 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ 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 Extreme X7800 and Phenom II X2 550
Core 2 Extreme X7800
The Core 2 Extreme X7800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 July 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom XE (2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,138 points. Launch price was $851.
Phenom II X2 550
The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Extreme X7800 and Phenom II X2 550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X7800 versus 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core 2 Extreme X7800 uses the Merom XE (2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses Callisto (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Extreme X7800 scores 1,138 against the Phenom II X2 550's 1,142 — a 0.4% lead for the Phenom II X2 550. L3 cache: 4 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Extreme X7800 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X7800 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Merom XE (2007) | Callisto (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,138 | 1,142 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Extreme X7800 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X7800 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Extreme X7800) / not specified (Phenom II X2 550).
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X7800 | Phenom II X2 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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