Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830

Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Extreme X7900

2 / 2

1,115

+0.7%

Pentium D 830

Pentium T2370

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

1,107

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 2 Extreme X7900

2007

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌166.7% higher power demand at 4W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 N830

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 4W, a 3W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,107 vs 1,115).

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Extreme X7900 better than Phenom II X3 N830?

Yes. Core 2 Extreme X7900 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core 2 Extreme X7900 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core 2 Extreme X7900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 2 Extreme X7900 still makes the most sense overall. Core 2 Extreme X7900 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Phenom II X3 N830 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2007). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core 2 Extreme X7900

The Core 2 Extreme X7900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,115 points. Launch price was $851.

Phenom II X3 N830

The Phenom II X3 N830 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: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,107 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core 2 Extreme X7900 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 N830 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 N830 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X7900 versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N830 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme X7900. The Core 2 Extreme X7900 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N830 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Extreme X7900 scores 1,115 against the Phenom II X3 N830's 1,107 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Extreme X7900.

Feature	Core 2 Extreme X7900	Phenom II X3 N830
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	3 / 3+50%
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+33%	2.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	4 MB+167%	1.5 MB
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Merom (2006−2008)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,115	1,107

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Extreme X7900 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 N830 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 2 Extreme X7900	Phenom II X3 N830
Socket	PGA478	S1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	—
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Extreme X7900) / not specified (Phenom II X3 N830). Primary use case: Core 2 Extreme X7900 targets Mobile.