CPU
GPU
Phenom II X4 P920
Core 2 Duo E8600
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 P920 is positioned at rank 483 and the Core 2 Duo E8600 is on rank 1050, so the Phenom II X4 P920 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 P920
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 P920 | Core 2 Duo E8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 P920 | Core 2 Duo E8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($95) |
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 P920 and Core 2 Duo E8600
Phenom II X4 P920
The Phenom II X4 P920 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo E8600
The Core 2 Duo E8600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,378 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 P920 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo E8600 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X4 P920 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Phenom II X4 P920 versus 3.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8600 — a 70.2% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E8600. The Phenom II X4 P920 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8600 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 P920 scores 1,395 against the Core 2 Duo E8600's 1,378 — a 1.2% lead for the Phenom II X4 P920.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 P920 | Core 2 Duo E8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.33 GHz+108% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,395+1% | 1,378 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 486 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 885 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 P920 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8600 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 P920 | Core 2 Duo E8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | LGA775 |
| 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: not specified (Phenom II X4 P920) / VT-x (Core 2 Duo E8600). Primary use case: Core 2 Duo E8600 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core 2 Duo E8600 rivals Phenom II X2 550.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 P920 | Core 2 Duo E8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
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