Core 2 Extreme X9000 vs Phenom II X3 N830

Core 2 Extreme X9000 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Performance Spectrum

Core 2 Extreme X9000

2 / 2

1,108

+0.1%

Pentium D 830

Celeron N3010

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 X9000 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 X9000 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 X9000

2008

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌300% higher power demand at 6W vs 1.5W.

Phenom II X3 N830

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 6W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,107 vs 1,108).

Quick Answers

So, is Core 2 Extreme X9000 better than Phenom II X3 N830?

Yes. Core 2 Extreme X9000 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% 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 X9000 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% 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 X9000 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Core 2 Extreme X9000 still makes the most sense overall. Core 2 Extreme X9000 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% 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 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core 2 Extreme X9000 vs Phenom II X3 N830 Technical Specifications

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

Core 2 Extreme X9000

The Core 2 Extreme X9000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,108 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 X9000 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 X9000 versus 2.1 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N830 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core 2 Extreme X9000. The Core 2 Extreme X9000 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 N830 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Extreme X9000 scores 1,108 against the Phenom II X3 N830's 1,107 — a 0.1% lead for the Core 2 Extreme X9000.

Feature	Core 2 Extreme X9000	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	6 MB L2 Cache	—
L2 Cache	6 MB+300%	1.5 MB
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Penryn (2008−2011)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,108	1,107

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Memory & Platform

The Core 2 Extreme X9000 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.