CPU
GPU
Phenom II X3 N830
Core 2 Duo E4400
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 N830 is positioned at rank 603 and the Core 2 Duo E4400 is on rank 1001, so the Phenom II X3 N830 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 N830
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N830 | Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N830 | Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 N830 and Core 2 Duo E4400
Phenom II X3 N830
The Phenom II X3 N830 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,107 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo E4400
The Core 2 Duo E4400 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 GHz, with boost up to 2 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: 1,095 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N830 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E4400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 N830 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N830 versus 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4400 — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 N830. The Phenom II X3 N830 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 uses Allendale (2006−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N830 scores 1,107 against the Core 2 Duo E4400's 1,095 — a 1.1% lead for the Phenom II X3 N830.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N830 | Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz+5% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB | 2 MB+33% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Allendale (2006−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,107+1% | 1,095 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 208 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 N830 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E4400 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N830 | Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 N830) / None (Core 2 Duo E4400). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E4400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E4400 rivals Athlon II X2 240.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N830 | Core 2 Duo E4400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | None |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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