Pentium Dual Core T2390 vs Athlon 64 FX-72
Pentium Dual Core T2390
Athlon 64 FX-72
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 Pentium Dual Core T2390 is positioned at rank 863 and the Athlon 64 FX-72 is on rank 1100, so the Pentium Dual Core T2390 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Dual Core T2390
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-72
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Windsor (2006−2007) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+690%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ 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 Pentium Dual Core T2390 and Athlon 64 FX-72
Pentium Dual Core T2390
The Pentium Dual Core T2390 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.86 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,771 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon 64 FX-72
The Athlon 64 FX-72 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Windsor (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: F. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium Dual Core T2390 and Athlon 64 FX-72 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Pentium Dual Core T2390 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-72 — a 40.3% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-72. The Pentium Dual Core T2390 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-72 uses Windsor (2006−2007) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Dual Core T2390 scores 1,771 against the Athlon 64 FX-72's 1,794 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-72.
| Feature | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.8 GHz+51% |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm-28% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Windsor (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,771 | 1,794+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Dual Core T2390 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 FX-72 uses F (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | F |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium Dual Core T2390 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 FX-72 debuted at $799. At current prices ($5 vs $40), the Pentium Dual Core T2390 is $35 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium Dual Core T2390 delivers 354.2 pts/$ vs 44.9 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 FX-72 — making the Pentium Dual Core T2390 the 155% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Athlon 64 FX-72 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-89% | $799 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-88% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 354.2+689% | 44.9 |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2006 |
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