Core 2 Solo SU3500 vs Phenom II X3 700e
Core 2 Solo SU3500
Phenom II X3 700e
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 Solo SU3500 is positioned at rank 1195 and the Phenom II X3 700e is on rank 972, so the Phenom II X3 700e 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 Solo SU3500
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 700e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+170%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 Solo SU3500 and Phenom II X3 700e
Core 2 Solo SU3500
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 5.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,468 points. Launch price was $262.
Phenom II X3 700e
The Phenom II X3 700e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,451 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Phenom II X3 700e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 700e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Solo SU3500 versus 2.4 GHz on the Phenom II X3 700e — a 52.6% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 700e (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Solo SU3500 scores 1,468 against the Phenom II X3 700e's 1,451 — a 1.2% lead for the Core 2 Solo SU3500. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core 2 Solo SU3500 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 700e.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 3 / 3+200% |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz+71% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 2.4 GHz+85% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 6 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+500% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,468+1% | 1,451 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Solo SU3500) / AMD-V (Phenom II X3 700e). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 700e targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core 2 Solo SU3500 launched at $262 MSRP, while the Phenom II X3 700e debuted at $125. At current prices ($15 vs $40), the Core 2 Solo SU3500 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 2 Solo SU3500 delivers 97.9 pts/$ vs 36.3 pts/$ for the Phenom II X3 700e — making the Core 2 Solo SU3500 the 91.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3500 | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $262 | $125-52% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-63% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.9+170% | 36.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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