Pentium Dual Core T2390 vs Phenom X4 9650
Pentium Dual Core T2390
Phenom X4 9650
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 Phenom X4 9650 is on rank 362, so the Phenom X4 9650 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 Phenom X4 9650
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Phenom X4 9650 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Agena (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Phenom X4 9650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Phenom X4 9650
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.
Phenom X4 9650
The Phenom X4 9650 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Agena (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,777 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Pentium Dual Core T2390 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom X4 9650 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom X4 9650 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Pentium Dual Core T2390 versus 2.3 GHz on the Phenom X4 9650 — a 21.2% clock advantage for the Phenom X4 9650. The Pentium Dual Core T2390 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Phenom X4 9650 uses Agena (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Dual Core T2390 scores 1,771 against the Phenom X4 9650's 1,777 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom X4 9650.
| Feature | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Phenom X4 9650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2.3 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | — | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Agena (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,771 | 1,777 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Dual Core T2390 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Phenom X4 9650 uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Dual Core T2390 | Phenom X4 9650 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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