Core 2 Extreme X9100 vs A8-3800
Core 2 Extreme X9100
A8-3800
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 X9100 is positioned at rank 277 and the A8-3800 is on rank 886, so the Core 2 Extreme X9100 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 X9100
Performance Per Dollar A8-3800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($851) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn XE (2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2015%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($851) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 X9100 and A8-3800
Core 2 Extreme X9100
The Core 2 Extreme X9100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn XE (2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,063 points. Launch price was $851.
A8-3800
The A8-3800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,051 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Extreme X9100 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Extreme X9100 versus 2.7 GHz on the A8-3800 — a 189.9% clock advantage for the A8-3800 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core 2 Extreme X9100 uses the Penryn XE (2008) architecture (45 nm), while the A8-3800 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Extreme X9100 scores 2,063 against the A8-3800's 2,051 — a 0.6% lead for the Core 2 Extreme X9100. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.7 GHz+3757% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+28% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB+500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Penryn XE (2008) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,063 | 2,051 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 370 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,350 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Extreme X9100 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A8-3800 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Extreme X9100) / AMD-V (A8-3800). The A8-3800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6550D), while the Core 2 Extreme X9100 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3800 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3800 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Extreme X9100 launched at $851 MSRP, while the A8-3800 debuted at $130.
| Feature | Core 2 Extreme X9100 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $851 | $130-85% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $40 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2011 |
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