Phenom II X3 N870 vs Core 2 Duo T5850
Phenom II X3 N870
Core 2 Duo T5850
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 N870 is positioned at rank 250 and the Core 2 Duo T5850 is on rank 245, so the Core 2 Duo T5850 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 N870
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Core 2 Duo T5850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Core 2 Duo T5850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 N870 and Core 2 Duo T5850
Phenom II X3 N870
The Phenom II X3 N870 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: 2.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,145 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo T5850
The Core 2 Duo T5850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,161 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N870 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T5850 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 N870 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N870 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5850 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 N870. The Phenom II X3 N870 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5850 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N870 scores 2,145 against the Core 2 Duo T5850's 2,161 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5850.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Core 2 Duo T5850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz+10% | 2.1 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB | 2 MB+33% |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,145 | 2,161 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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