CPU
GPU
Phenom II X4 830
Core 2 Duo SP9400
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 X4 830 is positioned at rank 307 and the Core 2 Duo SP9400 is on rank 631, so the Phenom II X4 830 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 X4 830
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo SP9400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 830 | Core 2 Duo SP9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 830 | Core 2 Duo SP9400 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X4 830 and Core 2 Duo SP9400
Phenom II X4 830
The Phenom II X4 830 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,072 points. Launch price was $80.
Core 2 Duo SP9400
The Core 2 Duo SP9400 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,083 points. Launch price was $284.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 830 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo SP9400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X4 830 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Phenom II X4 830 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo SP9400 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 830 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Phenom II X4 830 uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo SP9400 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 830 scores 2,072 against the Core 2 Duo SP9400's 2,083 — a 0.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo SP9400. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 830 vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo SP9400.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 830 | Core 2 Duo SP9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 6 MB L2 Cache+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB+1100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,072 | 2,083 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 340 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 600 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 830 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo SP9400 uses BGA956 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 830 | Core 2 Duo SP9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA956 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 830) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo SP9400). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo SP9400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo SP9400 rivals Athlon II X2 245e.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 830 | Core 2 Duo SP9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | GMA X4500HD |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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