Core 2 Extreme X7900 vs Phenom II X3 N830
Core 2 Extreme X7900
Phenom II X3 N830
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 X7900 is positioned at rank 1162 and the Phenom II X3 N830 is on rank 603, so the Phenom II X3 N830 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 X7900
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 N830
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X7900 | Phenom II X3 N830 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X7900 | Phenom II X3 N830 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X7900 and Phenom II X3 N830
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.
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 |
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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Extreme X7900) / not specified (Phenom II X3 N830). Primary use case: Core 2 Extreme X7900 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X7900 | Phenom II X3 N830 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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