All CPUs in this test were benchmarked at default frequencies and in combination with DDR3-133 memory. Not all CPUs could benefit fully from this memory. AMD CPUs had no problems with this memory since their integrated memory controller allows wide range of memory multipliers. On the other side, Intel CPUs in this test are using memory controller in northbridge. This controller has narrower range of memory multipliers. Because of this, memory clock depends on FSB. Pentium E5400 has FSB at 200MHz (800QPB) and maximum memory clock 800MHz, while in case of E6300 memory can operate at 1066MHz since it has FSB at 266MHz (1066QPB). Different memory frequencies have some impact at overall performance rates, so if you buy fast memory you have to purchase appropriate CPUs when it comes to Intel solutions and default frequencies. When it comes to AMD CPUs, situation is much easier because of its integrated memory controller.

NVIDIA GeForce GTS250 has responsible for video acceleration with price tag that matches CPU price. Operating system that we used was Windows 7 64-bit since memory price is low and more and more users can have more than 3GB RAM, which is put to good use only in case of 64-bit Windows. Besides usual benchmarks for rendering and archiving we also used DriverHeaven Photoshop benchmark and test picture. Games were set at relatively high settings because most of users would set it that way, or wanted to set it that way. Resident Evil 5 and World in Conflict are tested with maximum detail settings. Crysis Warhead was used with Gamer settings.

Virtualization was tested in VirtualBox and as guest OS we used Ubuntu 9.10 x64. Windows 7 Ultimate does come with Virtual XP mod, but this edition is not available to all Windows users.  Virtual XP mod allows Windows 7 Ultimate users to run application in Windows XP virtual mode in case all other compatibility modes did not do the trick. Of course, you need good CPU to do this job in satisfactory manner. CPUs that we managed to gather for this review are: AMD Athlon II X2 245, AMD Athlon II X3 435, Intel Pentium Dual Core e 5400 and Intel Pentium Dual Core E6300.

All CPUs are made in 45nm manufacturing process. Only Athlon II X3 435 was triple core with 95W power consumption, while all other CPUs were dual cores with 65W power consumption. Frequencies of all tested CPUs are very similar, and if you take a look at results, you will came to conclusion that performance levels are also very similar. Of course, overclocking of each CPU is possible but we will not deal with it, since it depends on too many unknown variables such as: memory, motherboard, CPU cooler and finally CPU sample.