Pentium Silver A1030 vs Core 2 Duo SU9300

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 Silver A1030 is positioned at rank 1140 and the Core 2 Duo SU9300 is on rank 143, so the Core 2 Duo SU9300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium Silver A1030

#1128

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3825%

#1129

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3769%

#1130

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3460%

#1131

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3445%

#1132

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3413%

#1134

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3296%

#1135

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

3160%

#1136

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

3155%

#1137

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

3070%

#1140

Pentium Silver A1030

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#1141

Celeron 807

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

100%

#1142

Pentium B950

MSRP: $134|Avg: $35

99%

#1143

Celeron 220

MSRP: $42|Avg: $42

99%

#1144

Pentium B960

MSRP: $134|Avg: $15

99%

#1146

Pentium 957

MSRP: $134|Avg: $10

99%

#1147

Core 2 Duo SL9400

MSRP: $284|Avg: N/A

98%

#1149

Pentium N3540

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

98%

#1150

Core i7-3555LE

MSRP: $300|Avg: $280

97%

#1151

Core i3-2377M

MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A

96%

#1152

Core 2 Duo E8435

MSRP: $150|Avg: $74

96%

#1153

Celeron M 723

MSRP: $161|Avg: $161

96%

#1154

Core i7-3517UE

MSRP: $330|Avg: $35

94%

#1155

Core M-5Y51

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

94%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SU9300

#36

Core i5-11500B

MSRP: $185|Avg: $185

99%

#131

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

316%

#132

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

312%

#133

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

286%

#134

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

285%

#135

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

282%

#137

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

272%

#138

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

261%

#139

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

261%

#140

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

254%

#143

Core 2 Duo SU9300

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#147

Atom N2800

MSRP: $47|Avg: $3

99%

#158

Core i5-3210M

MSRP: $225|Avg: $30

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Pentium Silver A1030 (2020) utilizes 14 nm technology and upto-2400, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo SU9300
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core 2 Duo SU9300 (2008) relies on 45 nm technology and older memory, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo SU9300
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Pentium Silver A1030 Benchmark Check

Core 2 Duo SU9300 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Pentium Silver A1030 and Core 2 Duo SU9300

Pentium Silver A1030

The Pentium Silver A1030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: upto-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,380 points. Launch price was $69.

Core 2 Duo SU9300

The Core 2 Duo SU9300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,392 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Pentium Silver A1030 and Core 2 Duo SU9300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver A1030 versus 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9300 — a 76.9% clock advantage for the Pentium Silver A1030 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core 2 Duo SU9300 is built on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium Silver A1030 scores 1,380 against the Core 2 Duo SU9300's 1,392 — a 0.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo SU9300. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Pentium Silver A1030 vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9300.

Feature	Pentium Silver A1030	Core 2 Duo SU9300
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz+125%	1.2 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz+67%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB+33%	3 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	—	3 MB
Process	14 nm-69%	45 nm
Architecture	—	Penryn (2008−2011)
PassMark	1,380	1,392

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium Silver A1030 uses the FCBGA1090 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo SU9300 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.