Phenom II X3 720 vs Core 2 Duo SU9400
Phenom II X3 720
Core 2 Duo SU9400
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 X3 720 is positioned at rank 957 and the Core 2 Duo SU9400 is on rank 409, so the Core 2 Duo SU9400 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 X3 720
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SU9400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 720 | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($64) | ✅ 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 Phenom II X3 720 and Core 2 Duo SU9400
Phenom II X3 720
The Phenom II X3 720 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,600 points. Launch price was $75.
Core 2 Duo SU9400
The Core 2 Duo SU9400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 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: 1,596 points. Launch price was $262.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 720 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Duo SU9400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 720 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X3 720 versus 1.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SU9400 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 720 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Phenom II X3 720 uses the Heka (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 720 scores 1,600 against the Core 2 Duo SU9400's 1,596 — a 0.3% lead for the Phenom II X3 720. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 720 vs 3 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+100% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+100% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 3 MB+500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Heka (2009−2010) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,600 | 1,596 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 720 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo SU9400 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Phenom II X3 720) / not specified (Core 2 Duo SU9400). Primary use case: Phenom II X3 720 targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 720 | Core 2 Duo SU9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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