Phenom II X2 545 vs Core 2 Duo E4600
Phenom II X2 545
Core 2 Duo E4600
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 Phenom II X2 545 is positioned at rank 490 and the Core 2 Duo E4600 is on rank 1006, so the Phenom II X2 545 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 545
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 545 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Callisto (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 545 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) |
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 Phenom II X2 545 and Core 2 Duo E4600
Phenom II X2 545
The Phenom II X2 545 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (per core). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,233 points. Launch price was $50.
Core 2 Duo E4600
The Core 2 Duo E4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,235 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Phenom II X2 545 and Core 2 Duo E4600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Phenom II X2 545 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4600 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 545 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Phenom II X2 545 uses the Callisto (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 uses Allendale (2006−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 545 scores 1,233 against the Core 2 Duo E4600's 1,235 — a 0.2% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4600. L3 cache: 6 MB (per core) on the Phenom II X2 545 vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E4600.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 545 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (per core) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Callisto (2009−2010) | Allendale (2006−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,233 | 1,235 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X2 545 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 545 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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