Phenom X3 8250e vs Core 2 Duo T9600
Phenom X3 8250e
Core 2 Duo T9600
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 X3 8250e is positioned at rank 538 and the Core 2 Duo T9600 is on rank 841, so the Phenom X3 8250e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8250e
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T9600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X3 8250e | Core 2 Duo T9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X3 8250e | Core 2 Duo T9600 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X3 8250e and Core 2 Duo T9600
Phenom X3 8250e
The Phenom X3 8250e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,084 points. Launch price was $149.
Core 2 Duo T9600
The Core 2 Duo T9600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 July 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,087 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The Phenom X3 8250e packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T9600 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom X3 8250e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Phenom X3 8250e versus 2.8 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T9600 — a 38.3% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T9600. The Phenom X3 8250e uses the Toliman (2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T9600 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X3 8250e scores 1,084 against the Core 2 Duo T9600's 1,087 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo T9600. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8250e vs 6 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T9600.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8250e | Core 2 Duo T9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.8 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 6 MB L2 Cache+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 6 MB+1100% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Toliman (2008) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,084 | 1,087 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X3 8250e uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo T9600 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8250e | Core 2 Duo T9600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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